Matthew Jones throws hat in familiar ring

In 1991, a former Marine with no public service background and very little name recognition challenged Mayor Don Beaver in the Havelock municipal elections.

He lost that year, and in three subsequent tries for the mayor’s seat.

He also came short in campaigns for a city commissioner seat.

But, this year is different says Matthew “Sugarbear” Jones.

He has time on his side and he says from the number of encouraging calls he’s had to throw his hat in the ring since the last election, he’s definitely earned voter recognition.

Jones filed for his fifth Havelock mayoral election last week, and this time he won’t have George Griffin to contend with.

Griffin has announced he’s not running, and thus far there are no other announced candidates for the top spot on the board, although public speculation that commissioner Jimmy Sanders Sr. may file in the mayoral election is the talk of the town.

Jones points to the 2001 mayoral race as proof that he has overcome the name recognition obstacle. That year, Griffin beat him 769 to 564.

“You can see I narrowed the gap,” he said.

He also has a few less work-related obstacles to contend with.

Jones recalls during some of his campaigns he was conspicuously absent when he was off on field trips related to his Naval Air Depot occupation.

“I haven’t deployed in the past two years,” he said. “Now that I’m an electrical equipment repair supervisor I don’t have to worry about extended absences from the city.”

Even the prospect of running against Jimmy Sanders Sr. does not worry Jones. He lost two successive mayoral bids against Sanders, (1995 and 1997), but he says his message has not changed. I

“What I have going for me is the pure fact that I’ve been here this entire time saying I want to be the voice of the people from the very first campaign,” he said.

“I have nothing against any of the commissioners on the board and I don’t want to speculate on whether any of them will run for mayor, but the point is if any one of them runs, it will be the same old thing with a new title. If the people really want change, what they need to do is put in a new mayor, and not one that’s been on that board in the past.”

Jones served in the Marine Corps, specializing in aviation electronics, from 1970 to 1979, and has lived in the same Woodhaven subdivision home since 1980.

He’s originally from Philadelphia, Pa.

Through the years

Here is Jones’ track record of running for elected office in Havelock:

1991 Jones ran for mayor against Don Beaver.  He received 184 votes to Beaver’s 382.  Jimmy Sanders Sr. drew 246 write in votes in that election.

1993 Did not run

1995 Ran for mayor against Jimmy Sanders Sr. and Jim Schellhorn He had 73 votes to Sanders’ 731 and Schellhorn’s 174

1997 Ran for mayor against George Griffin and Jimmy Sanders Sr. He got 61 votes to Griffin’s 726 and Sanders’ 444

1999 Ran for commissioner in a field of 13 candidates vying for four seats. Jones came in ninth with 163 votes. Top vote getter that year was James Beasley with 614 votes. Fourth place went to Don Beaver with 522 votes.

2001 ran for mayor against George Griffin. He had 564 votes to Griffin’s 769

2003 Ran for commissioner against a field of nine candidates. He came in sixth with 314 votes. Top vote getter that year was Danny Walsh, with 533 votes.  Fourth place went to Jim Stuart, with 323 votes.

Election timeline

Filing began Friday and closes on Aug 5, at noon. 

Voter registration deadline is Oct. 14.

Absentee voting by mail begins Oct. 7.

One stop absentee voting begins Oct. 20.

The election will be held Nov. 8