Buckeye Firearms Assoc. endorsee Shannon Jones selected to join State Senate

The Cincinnati Enquirer is reporting that State Rep. Shannon Jones, a 2008 Buckeye Firearms Association endorsee, has been selected by Senate Republicans to become newest member of the Senate, representing about 330,000 residents of Hamilton and Warren counties.

The story notes that Jones was among four candidates who applied for the 7th District seat left vacant by the June 19 death of Sen. Bob Schuler.

From the story:

The GOP-led Senate is expected to officially seat Jones during Tuesday's 11 a.m. session. Republicans represent 21 of the state's 33 Senate districts, including this appointment Jones, who did not return calls for comment Monday evening, will complete Schuler's unexpired four-year term, and has to run for election in 2010. Her 67th District seat now has to be filled in the Ohio House. She is in her second two-year term.

Alex M. Triantafilou, chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party, said that Jones, who once served as executive director of the county GOP, will make a great state senator. "Shannon is well known to Cincinnatians. We're very happy for Shannon."

The appointment will give Jones a head start by running next year as an incumbent state senator for a full four-year term.

Although as a freshman representative she has not yet had much opportunity to vote on pro-gun legislation, Jones did co-sponsor HB203, the Restaurant Carry bill introduced earlier this summer by Reps. Danny Bubp & Jarrod Martin.

We look forward to working with Jones in the Senate, and will encourage House Republicans to select a pro-gun replacement for Jones to join their caucus.