Chris Jones hints at future political runs, but for now he’ll call Wendell Griffen his boss

Chris Jones said we haven’t heard the last of him and his political aspirations, but for the time being, he’s going to work Jan. 1 as Pulaski County Judge-elect Wendell Griffen’s planning and development director.

Most recently, Jones, a Democrat, fell just short of beating incumbent Republican French Hill for the 2nd District Congressional seat. Having been given enough time to process the loss, he said Griffen called him last week and said, “OK, let’s get to work.”

On paper, it would seem that Jones is remarkably suited to take on the job, which will likely take him into combat with high-end industrial operations, like the AVAIO-Digital data center being built near Wrightsville. He’s got bachelor’s degrees in math and physics, master’s degrees in nuclear engineering and technology and policy, and a doctorate in urban studies and planning with a dissertation titled “Large Scale Energy Systems.” 

Asked what he will focus on at the outset, he quickly checked off several areas of emphasis: Creating more transparency and efficiency in the planning department, getting the right staff in place and, if the county’s ordinance dealing with data centers holds up against a lawsuit filed by AVAIO against the county, working through that piece of legislation to protect the county from runaway industrial intrusion on county residents and the environment.

“There’s also the economic development piece,” Jones said. “We need to look globally to bring in industry to Pulaski County. We need to look at places that maybe have been overlooked – South America, Africa, you name it.”

Jones said he also thinks it’s important to engage the community in the planning process.

“Right now, people don’t feel like they are part of the process,” he said. “They feel like they are largely separated from the process and are not included in it.”

Jones said he looks forward to bringing his technical expertise to his new position.

“I’m excited to be in the conversation about AI and data centers,” Jones said. (He explained his thoughts on AI recently to the Arkansas Times.) “We need to be aware of what is happening globally with them and what’s happening locally.”

And he said he’s looking forward to being on Griffen’s team.

“Pulaski County has so much potential,” he said. “I’m pumped to be in the mix with a very strong leader. Judge Griffen is a veteran and a straight shooter who has no ego. He really just wants what’s right for the people.”

The feeling was mutual for Griffen, who said he was delighted to have Jones on his staff.

“There’s no one in Pulaski County or in Arkansas who brings the academic knowledge base, the scholarship and the experience that Dr. Jones has, or who has the network of professionals that he has access to – three of his degrees are from MIT – that he is willing to share. Chris Jones is destined to lead public policy at the national level – he just has too much to offer for him not to. I can’t imagine a better scenario for us, as this will be wonderful for our state, our county and our people.”

Asked about his political future, Jones said yes, there will be one.

“Interestingly, (former governor) Asa Hutchinson told me during the final phase of my race for governor that he lost twice before he won,” Jones said, referring to his own unsuccessful run against Sarah Sanders in 2022. “His message was basically hang in there.”

Jones said the public has also expressed support.

“Yesterday, I was at Mosaic Templars for the opening of the exhibit on Black soldiers as part of a celebration of veterans – my wife is a veteran,” he said. “And they had the oldest veteran in the state, Mr. (Thomas) Vaughns, who is 106. 

“I had to smile because he was a deacon in the Barraque Street Baptist Church in Pine Bluff where I went to church growing up. I shook his hand, and he’s still as sharp as a tack, asking me about my parents. He said, ‘I want you to keep fighting.’ Look, when a 106-year-old Tuskegee airman tells you to keep fighting, come on, what else are you going to do?”

Jones said he was certainly not giving up, but wasn’t sure just yet what his political future will look like.

“A friend said that in our state’s history, we had never sent a Black person to Congress,” Jones said. “He said you not only touched the glass ceiling, you cracked it. All I’m saying right now is don’t throw away your signs.”