Vernon Jones through the years

Metro Atlanta

Vernon Jones through the years

Vernon Jones through the years

Former DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones announces his campaign for DeKalb County sheriff on the steps of the old DeKalb County Courthouse in Decatur on Feb. 20. Jones, who has never been a sworn law enforcement officer, joins a field of at least five announced candidates. Voters will choose a new sheriff in November; DeKalb Sheriff Thomas Brown announced last year he was vacating the office to run for Congress.

Vernon Jones kisses 5-month old Harper Gonzales, daughter of Mario and Jacqueline Gonzales, during the event announcing his campaign for sheriff. Jones served two terms as DeKalb's CEO between 2001 and 2008.

Vernon Jones, DeKalb County CEO at the time, holds a Taser during a press conference on Aug. 2, 2005. Jones was announcing that DeKalb would stop using the devices over concerns about their safety. (RENEE' HANNANS HENRY/AJC staff)

ernon Jones with his pet dog, Henry, at Arabia Mountain in Lithonia on Monday, July 24, 2006. (JENNI GIRTMAN/STAFF)

Interim Dekalb Police Chief Nick Marinelli, Dekalb CEO Vernon Jones, and incoming Police Chief Terrell Bolton, 48, (left to right) address the media in Decatur on Friday, Dec. 22, 2006, during a press conference naming Bolton the new Dekalb chief of police. (CURTIS COMPTON / AJC staff)

Former Police Chief Louis Graham, Vernon Jones and acting chief Nick Marinelli meet at the Dekalb Police headquarters to discuss the transition in the wake of Graham's resignation on May 4, 2006 (Renee' Hannans Henry/AJC staff)

Jones answers questions during a debate against Jim Martin for the U.S. Senate runoff election on July 29, 2008. Jones lost to Martin, who went on to lose the general election to Sen. Saxby Chambliss. Mikki K. Harris / mkharris@ajc.com

Jones talks with D.A. King, organizer of a rally protesting illegal immigration, in May 2007. The rally was held near the Cobb County offices of Sen. Saxby Chambliss, who Jones challenged for his Senate seat. Jones would lose a primary runoff election to Jim Martin, who would lose to Chambliss in the general election. (ANDY SHARP / AJC STAFF)

Senate candidate Vernon Jones campaigns at Candler Road and I-20 in August 2008. Renee' Hannans Henry/AJC.

Vernon Jones (right) gets some help playing pinochle from Emmanuel Henderson at the Lou Walker Senior Center in Lithonia in January 2010, when Jones was running for Georgia's Fourth Congressional District. Bita Honarvar, bhonarvar@ajc.com

Jones, who was a defendant in a discrimination case by four former DeKalb parks employees, talks to the media after the verdict on April 1, 2010. Two of the four plaintiffs were awarded damages in the suit, which alleged that Jones orchestrated a scheme to replace three top white managers in the parks department with blacks. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com

Vernon Jones, concludes a press conference after the verdict in the discrimination lawsuit in April 2010. A awarded damages against two former parks employees who claimed racial discrimination by Jones Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com

Jones enters his primary night party during at Dugan's restaurant in Decatur during his unsuccessful campaign for the Fourth Congressional District seat in July 2010. Hyosub Shin hshin@ajc.com

Jones gets a hug from a supporter after admitting defeat Tuesday night during the primary night party at Dugan’s Restaurant in Decatur in July 2010. Jones was running for the 4th District congressonal seat. Hyosub Shin hshin@ajc.com

Vernon Jones prays after voters approved a bond referendum for roads and sidewalks, parks and green space and new libraries in DeKalb County in November 2008. Angela Graham reaches out to Jones. (T. LEVETTE BAGWELL./STAFF)

DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones boards a MARTA bus at South Dekalb Mall to kick off a Developers Tour of Dekalb County in January 2002 (Renee' Hannans/Staff).

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Former DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones announces his campaign for DeKalb County sheriff on the steps of the old DeKalb County Courthouse in Decatur on Feb. 20. Jones, who has never been a sworn law enforcement officer, joins a field of at least five announced candidates. Voters will choose a new sheriff in November; DeKalb Sheriff Thomas Brown announced last year he was vacating the office to run for Congress.

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