Republican of the Year: Jason Jones

Every year, the Enfield Republican Town Committee selects a person to be honored with the title Republican of the Year. This year, Jason Jones is our choice.  

Jason is a lifelong resident of Enfield and a graduate of Enrico Fermi High School. He was honored at the annual Lincoln Day Dinner last Friday night at the Skyline Restaurant in Windsor Locks with his family and friends in attendance.

In his acceptance speech, Jason shared that when he was forming his political philosophy as a young man, he quickly saw that his beliefs were in line with Republican beliefs. Those beliefs include a lower tax burden on the citizen, less mandates on business, and a smaller and more efficient government.  

When I was informed that Jason was the Republican of the Year for 2011, I asked a few of the people who have worked alongside Jason to share some thoughts about him. Here is what his friends had to say.  

From Mayor Scott Kaupin: “Jason brings a different perspective to the leadership of our party here in Enfield due to his youth.  Although he has a great deal of experience due to his tenure on the Town Council, Planning & Zoning, Loan Review, the newly formed Community Development Corporation and our Town Committee, he has accomplished this before turning the ripe old age of thirty.  His insights with the uses of various medias, both traditional and new, have contributed to the success of our party getting our message out to the voters in Enfield.  Jason has become a trusted confidant due to his sound advice, political insight and hard work.  Jason is committed to moving our community forward in a positive direction, and this award both recognizes what he has contributed to date and what he will continue to contribute in the years to come.”  

From Councilwoman Carol Hall:   “I loved serving on the council with Jason; he always was truly dedicated and passionate about serving the people of the town of Enfield.  His passion for politics and the people of Enfield were always evident. I still credit Jason and our trip to Washington to lobby for the South Maple Street bridge replacement.  Representative Rob Simmons promised us that he would put the funding in for us and he did.  This was a very worthwhile trip for our nation league of cities conference.”

From State Sen. John Kissel: "Jason Jones has been an incredible member of the ERTC and our community for years, and I am honored to call him my friend. Jason is doggedly determined, while at the same time, as calming as a lighthouse in the midst of a storm. Jason is constant in both his friendships and demeanor. Cindy and I were honored to be guests when Jason and Andrea got married, and everyone enjoyed celebrating their special time. Earlier Jason co-chaired, along with Kevin Kibbe, one of my more difficult re-election campaigns and took care of dozens of tasks, great and small. My wife Cindy can tell you that there were some exceptional moments when Jason came to the rescue and never worried about the credit he truly deserved. Enfield Republicans in general, and I myself in particular, are blessed to have Jason Jones fighting the good fight with us, and he truly deserves the honor of being this year's Enfield Republican of the year."

,I also have had the privilege to serve with Jason when I was Chairman of the Republican Party in Enfield. As I stepped into the chairmanship I quickly learned that I had a person I could lean on and seek counsel from. As Mayor Kaupin pointed out, Jason is young, but his understanding of life, government, and the needs of Enfield shows a maturity well past his age. He is a prime example that wisdom is not always for the aged, but can come from people who become students of the world around them.  

The Enfield Republican Town Committee has grown throughout the years and is now at full membership, with openings for Associate members. In our ranks we are blessed with people of all ages and backgrounds. But we have one thing in common, and that is a desire to move our town forward for the betterment of our citizens. Jason has played a key role in making the Republican Party in Enfield a strong voice for its citizens.  

The founder of our Party, Abraham Lincoln, once said, “Character is like a tree and the shadow is the reputation. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the true thing.” When I think of Jason Jones, I think of this statement from our most esteemed President. Jason’s character is his greatest virtue and its shadow is evident to all who know him.   Jason has served in many offices in our town’s government. When he accepts a new task he dedicates himself to do his best. He quickly learns the issues, seeks out community input, and logically makes decisions. What more could you ask for in a public figure?  

Jason and his wife Andrea reside in Enfield with their dog, Zeus.   Once again, congratulations to Jason for becoming our Republican of the Year.