Jan Laverty Jones
Encyclopedia
Jan Laverty Jones is an American businesswoman
and politician
. She was mayor of Las Vegas
, Nevada
from 1991 to 1999 and the first woman to serve as mayor of Las Vegas. Jones is a member of the Democratic Party
.
, California
and graduated from Stanford University
in 1971. She became a recognized figure in Las Vegas in the 1980s, appearing as a spokeswoman in television
commercials for her family's supermarket chain, Thriftimart, and later a car dealership owned by her then-husband, Fletcher Jones, Jr. In 1991, she ran for an open seat for mayor and served two terms. Jones ran for Nevada governor twice, losing significantly in the Democratic primary to then-incumbent Bob Miller in 1994, and losing the general election in 1998 to Kenny Guinn
. In 1999, she chose not to run for a third term as mayor.
Jones is currently senior vice president of communications and government affairs with Las Vegas-based Harrah's Entertainment
and sits on the board of directors of the United States Chamber of Commerce
. She is married to Dana Blackhurst, an education advocate for learning disabilities who has headed several schools over the years.
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. She was mayor of Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
from 1991 to 1999 and the first woman to serve as mayor of Las Vegas. Jones is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Biography
Jones was born in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and graduated from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1971. She became a recognized figure in Las Vegas in the 1980s, appearing as a spokeswoman in television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
commercials for her family's supermarket chain, Thriftimart, and later a car dealership owned by her then-husband, Fletcher Jones, Jr. In 1991, she ran for an open seat for mayor and served two terms. Jones ran for Nevada governor twice, losing significantly in the Democratic primary to then-incumbent Bob Miller in 1994, and losing the general election in 1998 to Kenny Guinn
Kenny Guinn
Kenneth Carroll "Kenny" Guinn was an American businessman, educator and politician. He was the 27th Governor of Nevada from 1999 to 2007. He was a member of the Republican Party and a former member of the Democratic Party....
. In 1999, she chose not to run for a third term as mayor.
Jones is currently senior vice president of communications and government affairs with Las Vegas-based Harrah's Entertainment
Harrah's Entertainment
Caesars Entertainment Corporation is a private gaming corporation that owns and operates over 50 casinos, hotels, and seven golf courses under several brands. The company, based in Paradise, Nevada, is the largest gaming company in the world, with yearly revenues $8.9 billion...
and sits on the board of directors of the United States Chamber of Commerce
United States Chamber of Commerce
The United States Chamber of Commerce is an American lobbying group representing the interests of many businesses and trade associations. It is not an agency of the United States government....
. She is married to Dana Blackhurst, an education advocate for learning disabilities who has headed several schools over the years.