Superintendent Rex Mitchell and Lateresa Jones, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, after her tour of Hamilton County Elementary School last week.

JASPER — Lateresa Jones made the most of her visit to Hamilton County last week.

A candidate for the U.S. Senate, Jones visited for the Hamilton County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner on March 20. She then stayed for a tour of Hamilton County Elementary School the next morning in order to show her support for small schools and communities.

“Lateresa Jones called the school to see if she could view either the elementary or high school and we said yes,” Superintendent Red Mitchell said. “She wanted to talk about small districts and the challenges they face. 

“She was impressed by our schools because of our security and how open we are for others to come see what we do. We are absolutely willing to open our doors for others to come view our schools.”

After taking a tour of the new HCES, Jones was impressed.

“This is one of the best schools that I have seen and it is top of the line,” Jones said. “We are fighting up here to keep this school. 

“It concerns me when they do not come to these schools. They need to visit these schools individually before they start making decisions on these schools.”

In 1994, Jones worked as an organizer to pass the Violence Against Women Act. 

A small business owner, Jones is focusing her candidacy on more jobs, safer streets, better education and common-sense solutions for Americans. She said she fights for children, elderly and the poor.

“Richard Corcoran needs to make sure, before he starts talking about failure of schools, that he visits these schools first,” she added.