Peter Lawson Jones

Peter Lawson Jones speaks to political science class

Peter Lawson Jones, who two weeks ago became a Cuyahoga County Commissioner, yesterday spoke to Elizabeth Stiles' political science class, "Politics of the 50 States," on his previous five years in the state legislature. There, he said, the issues that stood out were the return to one-party rule (with Republicans controlling both administrative and legislative branches); the ascendancy of the conservatives; the introduction of term limits; and, resulting from the first three, the rise of partisan politics. Commissioner Jones also spent eight years on council in Shaker Heights, where he had graduated from high school with Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell. She preceded him both in the legislature and on the county commission. "But I'm not succeeding her as mayor!" he promised. After the class he had a luncheon meeting with faculty, staff and administration members hosted by Andreas Sobisch of political science.