Richard Jones says he’s never served in local government but he decided to put his business savvy to use and go for it.

“I just kind of woke up one morning and I thought, you know, I should run for mayor.”

With decades of experience as an insurance broker Jones says as mayor he’d find ways to reduce the city’s budget deficit. He would audit staff salaries and re-evaluate spending on city projects. He also says development and tourism are important.

“A new hotel, a new motel, a big Sheraton Inn, bring those people in, and make it worthwhile for people to want to come here for conventions. That’s where a lot of the money is, is getting people to come here. But, I don’t think they’re going to come here if they have to carry a gun.” 

Jones says he wants to make people feel safe and not like they have to carry that gun. He says targeting gangs and bringing more efficiency to the police force would help.

But one recurring theme for Jones is helping businesses and making the city look good.

Jones: “I visualize in 10 to 20 years, like everybody around here, to get all these lots people build on them, make them look pretty.”

One example Jones gave for beautifying Sacramento: passing ordinances for residents to maintain their trees.