Gary Jones (Oklahoma politician)

Gary Jones is a United States businessman and Republican politician from Oklahoma. He is the former Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector.

Gary Jones
Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector
In office
January 10, 2011 – January 14, 2019
GovernorMary Fallin
Preceded bySteve Burrage
Succeeded byCindy Byrd
Chair of the Oklahoma Republican Party
In office
April 14, 2007 – June 26, 2010
Preceded byTom Daxon[1]
Succeeded byMatt Pinnell[2]
In office
2003–2006
Preceded byChad Alexander[3]
Succeeded byTom Daxon
Personal details
Born1954 (age 68–69)
Fort Sill, Oklahoma, US
Political partyRepublican
EducationCameron University (BS)

Personal

Jones was born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, the fifth of seven children. He graduated from Cameron University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Business Administration/Accounting degree. Jones is both a certified public accountant and a certified fraud examiner.[4]

While in college, Jones worked for Southwestern Bell. After 10 years Jones left to start his own telecommunications company, which he sold 16 years later. Jones has operated a cow-calf operation for over 30 years in addition to his other ventures.

In 1994 Jones successfully ran for Comanche County Commissioner, a seat he held for four years.

Prior to his successful 2010 bid for State Auditor and Inspector, Jones unsuccessfully sought the office in both 2002 and 2006, losing both times to Jeff McMahan.

In 2003 he was named chairman and Executive Director of the Oklahoma Republican Party and held the office longer than anyone prior, until resigning to make his successful bid for State Auditor and Inspector.

In 2017, Gary Jones announced he would be a Republican candidate for Governor of Oklahoma in 2018. Gary Jones placed 5th in a 10-man primary that was held on June 26, 2018. He received almost 6% of the vote.[5][6][7]

Electoral history
Republican primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mick Cornett 132,806 29.3
Republican Kevin Stitt 110,479 24.4
Republican Todd Lamb 107,985 23.9
Republican Dan Fisher 35,818 7.9
Republican Gary Jones 25,243 5.6
Republican Gary Richardson 18,185 4.0
Republican Blake Stephens 12,211 2.7
Republican Christopher Barnett 5,240 1.2
Republican Barry Gowdy 2,347 0.5
Republican Eric Foutch 2,292 0.5
Total votes 452,606 100.0
Oklahoma Auditor and Inspector Election, 2002
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jeff McMahan 516,425 51.43
Republican Gary Jones 487,646 48.57
Oklahoma Auditor and Inspector Election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jeff McMahan (inc.) 469,311 51.68
Republican Gary Jones 438,778 48.32
Oklahoma Auditor and Inspector Republican Primary Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gary Jones 151,712 69.57
Republican David Hanigar 66,364 30.43
Oklahoma Auditor and Inspector Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gary Jones 570,174 55.94
Democratic Steve Burrage 449,152 44.06
Oklahoma Auditor and Inspector Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gary Jones (inc.) n/a 100.00

References
  1. "Gary Jones elected GOP state chairman". April 14, 2007.
  2. "Minds at work: Pinnell jabs 'Organizing for America,' Odom looks at November".
  3. "Gary Jones for State Auditor".
  4. "Gary Jones: State Auditor". 2010. Archived from the original on January 10, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  5. "Race for Governor: Gary Jones". June 4, 2018.
  6. "Gary Jones (Oklahoma)".
  7. "Oklahoma gubernatorial election, 2018".
  8. "State Election Results, Statewide Primary Election, June 26, 2018". ok.gov.
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