Murfreesboro businessman and community leader Bill Jones announced today he is a candidate for the Murfreesboro City Council seat vacated by Rutherford County General Sessions Judge Toby Gilley.

"The City of Murfreesboro's ability to successfully attract better job opportunities is tied largely to keeping taxes low, improving the quality of our schools and enhancing the quality of life we enjoy," Jones said. "These are my top priorities - the same priorities I've worked toward for over 30 years as a businessman, volunteer, husband and father."

Jones and his wife, Kathy, were named the YMCA of Rutherford County Co-Humanitarians of the Year in 2013. He was the Middle Tennessee Medical Center Foundation Philanthropist of the Year in 2012. Jones is a past co-chair of the American Heart Association's Rutherford County Heart Gala.

For the past eight years, Jones has chaired Destination Rutherford, a Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce organization focused on the County's economic development needs. He is a member of the Rutherford County Industrial Development Board. Prior to his involvement with Destination Rutherford and IDB, Jones served as chair of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce and was named its Business Person of the Year in 2007.

"I will continue to work on bringing new, higher-paying jobs to Murfreesboro, while helping our existing businesses to grow," Jones said.

"We also want to make sure we have a well-educated workforce, capable of attracting and taking advantage of new opportunities. We are fortunate to have Middle Tennessee State University and the Tennessee Technology Center in Murfreesboro to provide education and training for businesses and their existing and prospective employees," he said.

A product of public schools, Jones attended Mitchell Neilson Elementary School and Central Middle School and graduated from Riverdale High School and Middle Tennessee State University. His first job out of college was as an insurance and financial planner for Provow, Jones & Associates. Prior to joining Pinnacle Financial Partners, Jones was Vice President and Trust Officer for SunTrust Bank and Senior Vice President and Trust Officer for Cavalry Banking. Cavalry Banking was acquired by Pinnacle Financial Partners in 2006. Jones is currently Area Executive for Pinnacle Financial Partners.

"I've lived in Murfreesboro nearly all my life, and my wife and I chose to raise our family here. The quality of life for Murfreesboro residents is enhanced not only by the City's education and job opportunities, but by the fact that Murfreesboro is a tremendously giving community," Jones, who serves on the Christy-Houston Foundation Board, said.

Jones currently sits on the Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital and MTSU Jones College of Business board of directors and is a member of the MTSU Foundation Council of Past Presidents. He is a past member of the Middle Tennessee Medical Center Foundation's Trustee and Executive Committee and Saint Thomas Health Systems Foundation Investment Committee.

Jones and his family attend St. Paul's Episcopal Church, where he is also the Church's treasurer.

The special election for the two years remaining in Gilley's Murfreesboro City Council term will be held on the same day as the State and Federal General Election Day, Nov. 4, with early voting from Oct. 15-30.