Holly Jones takes job with state Department of Justice

Former Buncombe County commissioner and Asheville City Councilwoman Holly Jones is taking a job with the state Department of Justice.

The community partnership and outreach coordinator position involves work in the areas of consumer protection, the opioid epidemic, domestic violence and other issues, said Laura Brewer, a spokeswoman for the department.

Jones will be paid $85,897 a year and based in Buncombe County, Brewer said.

"Having Holly in the western part of the state will allow the office to have a larger focus on the region. Holly has a great background in domestic violence work and has deep ties to the area, which makes her well-suited for the position," she said.

The Republican majority in the state General Assembly significantly cut the Department of Justice's budget when it passed the state budget this year. Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein said that would make it difficult for his department to defend appeals from people convicted of crimes.

Brewer said Jones will be working in the department's consumer protection division, which is funded by settlements it wins on behalf of the state.

"That means her role isn't tied to or impacted by the massive cut to DOJ's budget the legislature made," she said.

Jones served on City Council 2001-07 and as a county commissioner 2008-16. She ran for lieutenant governor last year but lost in the Democratic primary.

She was executive director of the YWCA of Asheville from 199-6 to 2011, when she took a job working with YWCAs across the Southeast. She referred questions about her new job to Brewer.

An advertisement for the position posted in June said the successful applicant will build relationships with other community groups, nonprofits and the media and educate the public about issues the Department of Justice is involved in. It listed the salary range as $38,748 to $104,126, depending on experience and qualifications.