Lifelong resident, local business owner appointed to Franklin council

A lifelong Franklin resident will represent the west side of the city on the Franklin City Council.

The Johnson County Republican Party held a caucus Thursday night to appoint a new District 3 representative to the city council. Lisa Jones was selected unanimously by the five precinct committee members who voted.

She will fill the seat of former council member Drew Eggers. He had served on the council since 2016 and was recently elected to serve a second term, but stepped down because he is moving out of the city. He submitted his resignation Feb. 14, according to a letter from the Johnson County GOP.

Since Eggers left two months into his term, Jones will serve just shy of a full four-year term on the council.

Jones, 57, has lived in Franklin her whole life. She is currently co-owner of Jones and Anderson CPA Group in Franklin.

In recent years, Jones served on many boards and committees in the city, including the Franklin Board of Public Works and Franklin Development Corporation. She was also involved with the Franklin Chamber of Commerce and Habitat for Humanity, where she organized Franklin’s first all-women build.

She said she was proud to be selected to serve on the council.

“It’s very rewarding to be able to give back to the community I’ve lived in, one that’s given so much to me,” Jones said.

The council sets annual spending for the city, makes policy changes, adopts new local rules and ordinances, approves new taxes and appoints members to various city boards.

This will be Jones’s first time in a political office. But she said she learned a lot about city government during her time on the board of public works.

“The board of works really got me interested in leadership and the government and what we’re doing in our community,” Jones said.

Her top priority is to continue the city’s growth, but in a way that will maintain Franklin’s small-town feel, she said.

“It’s awe-inspiring to be part of the growth and see Franklin come back to life,” Jones said.

She will also focus on increasing job opportunities and maintaining safety in the community, she said.

Jones was one of three who vied for the spot on the council. Judith Coleman and Brian Hedrick were also in the running.

Coleman was a registered nurse at Johnson Memorial Hospital for 10 years, and ran against Eggers in last year’s primary.

Hedrick is former chief of the New Whiteland Fire Department, and a lieutenant with the Indianapolis Fire Department.

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Name: Lisa Jones

Age: 57

Party: Republican

Residence: Franklin

Family: Married to J. Scott Jones. Four children.

Education: Graduated from Franklin Community High School.

Work: Co-owner of Jones and Anderson CPA Group.

Political experience: None

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