Peter Lawson Jones

Peter Lawson Jones (born December 23, 1952) is an American actor, philanthropist and politician of the Democratic party. A resident of Shaker Heights, Ohio, he formerly served as a county commissioner in Cuyahoga County. Early years Jones was born December 23, 1952 to Charles Whitman Jones and Margaret "Diane" Jones, who paid twenty percent over asking - the black tax - to buy a house in Shaker Heights. When asked to not pay the higher fee, his mother was said to have responded, "My son is going to Shaker schools because I understand they’re very good." He received his AB magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1975, and his juris doctor from Harvard in 1980. He was admitted to the Ohio State Bar in November 1980. Political career Jones served on the Shaker Heights city council, and in 1994, he was the running mate for gubernatorial candidate Rob Burch. He served as a state representative from 1997 to 2002. In February 2002, after county commissioner Jane Campbell was elected mayor of Cleveland, the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party appointed Jones to replace her on the commission. Jones has extensive professional and community affiliations, and works at the law firm Roetzel & Andress in addition to his legislative duties.