After Two Appointments, Special Election, Jones Gets First Four-Year Term

After four years on the City Council, voters in District 3 gave Councilmember Justin Jones his first four-year term on Tuesday.

Jones was twice appointed by the City Council and won a two-year term in a special election in 2024.

Jones won a little-contested race on Tuesday. Although all of the votes have not been tallied, he has received 1,635 votes or 76% of the vote. His opponent Erica Margarita Muñoz so far has received 507 votes.

Jones was first appointed in September 2022, following the death of John J. Kennedy. The City Council appointed Jones a second time in December 2022.

At that time, the City Charter mandated the City Council to appoint Councilmembers after a seat became vacant.

After Jones was appointed by the City Council, supporters of his opponent criticized the appointment process, which had been used several times without complaints.

Two years later, Jones defeated Brandon Lamar in a special election.

On Tuesday, voters in District 3 finally voted in a primary election for the council seat.

“I am deeply grateful to the residents of District 3 for their trust. I am a public servant,” Jones told Pasadena Now. “My family has lived in Pasadena for over 130 years and with that deep history comes a profound dedication to the community I have the honor of serving. I am ready to continue the important work of representing them.”

A Pasadena native whose family has called the city home for more than 130 years, Jones credits Pasadena’s schools, programs, and public institutions with helping shape the person he is today.

A product of Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) schools, Jones benefited from several city-sponsored programs early in his career. He served as an intern through Pasadena Water and Power’s (PWP) ROSE Program and later worked as an engineering intern with the Pasadena Public Works Department. He is also a graduate of the Pasadena Neighborhood Leadership Institute, experiences he says provided the foundation for his professional development and commitment to civic engagement.

Jones is a licensed civil engineer and currently works for Los Angeles County Public Works, where he helps administer the Safe, Clean Water Program. The program provides dedicated local funding to increase water supply reliability, improve water quality, and protect public health throughout Los Angeles County.

On the City Council, Jones serves as chair of the Municipal Services Committee (MSC) and is a member of both the Public Safety Committee and the Housing, Homelessness and Planning Committee.

Before joining the council, Jones served as chair of the Pasadena Environmental Advisory Commission and the Pasadena Human Relations Commission. He also serves as a member of Pasadena Water and Power’s Stakeholder Technical Advisory Group for the utility’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), helping guide the city’s long-term energy planning efforts.