district state_senate succeeded religion birth_place imagesize profession party term_end birth_date term_start spouse article_title state
54th illinois kyle mccarter protestant broughton , illinois 150px state legislator republican 2013 08 october 1940 2003 mimi john o. jones
 illinois
john o. jones

john o. jones is a former republican member of the illinois senate , representing the 54th district from 2003 to 2013 .
jones previously served in the illinois house of representatives from 1995 to 2002 .
jones was lead sponsor of landmark senior citizen prescription assistance legislation that expanded the circuit breaker program by increasing the income eligibility requirements ; member of woodlands task force which protected landowners from skyrocketing property taxes on vacant woodland , grassland and wetlands ; sponsored education reform bill creating a base level funding for each student ; sponsored comprehensive legislation to revitalize the coal industry in illinois and he has been a strong advocate for township government , school construction funding and ethanol promotion .
in 2012 , o. jones ' 54th district was redrawn and , in places , combined with republican state senator kyle mccarter 's 51st district to create the new 54th district .
john .
o. jones proclaimed his retirement after failing to receive the 2,000 signatures needed for the republican primary ballot .
after considering running as an independent candidate , he told the centralia sentinel that he would instead retire from the state senate , stating he felt that was best for the party and for the people .
