BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – After several decades of service to the residents of Raleigh County, Raleigh County Magistrate Rick Jones has announced that he will not be seeking reelection in the coming months.
It was the latter half of the 1990s when Jones began his work for the Magistrate Court, work which itself followed over two decades of commitment to the West Virginia State Police.
“I’ve spent most of my adult life working,” Jones tells LOOTPRESS. “Between three years in the Army, 22 years in the State Police, and now 25 years in the Magistrate Court, I’m tired. I know it’s time.”
Born and raised in Clay County, Magistrate Jones notes that his interest in politics emerged early on due to exposure from family. He also credits time spent as a State Trooper with West Virginia Governor Jay Rockefeller as having influenced his decision later to pursue a career with the Magistrate Court.
“I was only 48 years old when I retired from the State Police, so I knew I had to do something,” he explains. “Timing is everything. I spent most of my police career right in Raleigh County. Of almost 22 years, I spent 17 of it stationed in Raleigh County and Wyoming County. I got to know the people and they knew me.That definitely helped.”
The departure of Magistrate Jones will result in a vacancy in his Magistrate position, one of two vacancies leading up to the Primary Elections in 2024. This will create a unique opportunity for those considering the distinct line of work. But those who commit should prepare to be limited on time.
“It’s a busy job,” Jones declares. “In my 25 years, when all is said and done, we estimate approximately 80,000 different issues, give or take, with respect to people, phone calls, and paperwork that I’ve dealt with in my 25 years.”
At the end of the day though, the longtime public servant gives the credit to God for his continued success in a variety of fields and for his continued safety over the course of his distinguished career.
“People have blessed me, and I’ll tell you, God has been good to me,” he exclaims. “He kept me safe when I was a trooper; He kept me safe when I was in the Army; He blessed me with this job and. I give God the glory. He’s taken care of me.”
Additional LOOTPRESS coverage for the Raleigh County area can be found here.
‘God has been good to me,’ – Raleigh County Magistrate reflects on decades-long career ahead of retirement
