Councilman Jones Resigns Early : Cites Business Studies at Harvard; Growth Role Pivotal

San Diego City Councilman William Jones, who is attending graduate classes at Harvard University business school, announced Monday that he was resigning his elected position immediately.

Jones’ announcement came just hours before the council was scheduled to meet on Monday to determine the fate of several key exemptions to the controversial Interim Development Ordinance. It was Jones’ vote during a lengthy meeting last month that provided a bare council majority for the first reading of the exemptions, which have angered slow-growth advocates.

Barry Schultz, Jones’ administrative assistant, said Monday that there were “a number of people who were asking him (Jones) to seriously consider coming back” from Harvard to vote on the IDO, as well as a companion measure aimed at curtailing development on the city’s hillsides and flood plains. Schultz declined to say who made the request of Jones.

Busy Schedule

But Jones, 32, decided this weekend to quit instead because of his busy schedule at Harvard in Cambridge, Mass., where classes started last week, Shultz said.

“Having reviewed his class schedule and having knowledge of the demands that would be placed on him at Harvard, there was no way to continue to fulfill his responsibilities as a council person and be successful at Harvard,” Schultz said.

The announcement puts to rest widespread speculation at City Hall about when Jones would quit since his April 2 announcement that he would be going to Harvard for what he called a “once in a lifetime” experience.

In his memo issued Monday, Jones also suggested that his colleagues not appoint an interim council member for the 4th District because there are only two months between today’s primary election and the general election, which will determine who will take over Jones’ and three other council seats.

‘Unnecessary’ Appointment

“In light of the short period of time that the 4th Council seat will be vacant, it seems to me unnecessary for the council to appoint anyone to serve during this interim period,” Jones wrote.

Until a successor is inaugurated, Schultz said that the six employees left on Jones’ staff will continue to field complaints and requests from residents of the 4th District, which is predominantly minority and contains some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods.

Jones’ tenure at City Hall began when he was a teen-age volunteer working for Councilman Leon Williams. Jones worked his way up to become administrative aide to Williams, who left the council in 1982 after being elected to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

Jones--then 27--was chosen to fill the 4th District vacancy, making him the youngest person to serve on the council of a major U.S. city.

During his time in office, Jones instituted Project First Class, a stepped-up program of code enforcement aimed at ridding the district of blight. Jones also focused attention on drug abuse and gang violence, problems in his district. His proposals have led to a citizens advisory board to the police, as well as new human relations training for police officers.