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Jones cites 'racially insensitive remarks' for dropping out of Tea Party rally

By Lawrence Budd, Staff Writer Updated 7:43 PM Monday, April 5, 2010

SPRINGBORO — State Sen. Shannon Jones has dropped out of a Springboro Tea Party rally to be held on Saturday, April 17, citing “racially insensitive remarks” on an organizer’s web site.

“Senator Jones is not going to be attending that event and is no longer going to affiliate herself with that organization,” said Brittney Colvin, campaign manager for Jones.

Jones, R-Clearcreek Twp., is running against Michelle Schneider, a former state representative from Madeira, for the Senate seat Jones was appointed to in August.

Jones was planning to participate in the April 17 event promoted by the Springboro Tea Party, Colvin said. She changed her mind after learning of “really racially insensitive” comments about Hispanics on a Twitter site maintained by Sonny Thomas, organizer of the rally.

“We don’t want to be affiliated with those comments,” Colvin said, while emphasizing, “we try to do everything we can with Tea Party groups in the district.”

Thomas declined to comment on the statement or Jones’ decision to end her affiliation with his group.

“I wouldn’t waste the time covering why a speaker dropped. I’d just focus on the event as a whole,” Thomas said in a text message.

On Monday, a campaign spokesman said Sen. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, a candidate for Ohio Secretary of State, decided not to attend the Springboro event.

“He will be attending Tea Party events between now and the election, but he will not be participating in this one,” spokesman Ryan Frazee said.

Frazee declined to say why Husted opted against participating in the Springboro event.

According to Thomas, more than 20 speakers, including former Congressman James Traficant, are confirmed for the event, to begin at noon, April 17, at the park off North Main Street (Ohio 741) in Springboro.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2261 or lbudd@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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