Who is Gwen Jones?

Gwen Jones was appointed acting mayor of Missoula, Montana, on Aug. 15 following the death of Mayor John Engen. The 57-year-old was undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer. 

Jones was the president of the city council at the time of Engen’s death. She will remain in the position until a new mayor is chosen.

Gwen Jones represented Ward 3, which includes the University District and the Slant Street neighborhood. She received praise from the council’s incumbents for her work when she served as the council’s vice president. She was elected Vice President of Council in January 2016.

Also Read | Who was John Engen, Missoula Mayor dead at 57?

Councilmember Jordan Hess nominated Jones as the president of the city council. Hess said in January that Jones has served with distinction through challenging times.

“I’ve always found Gwen to be deliberative, thoughtful, smart and she’s incredibly dedicated to her work,” Hess said, according to local media KPax. “She runs all that out by being kind, compassionate and really thoughtful. All those qualities make a good City Council member and they’re qualities that make a good leader.”

“Gwen has been a proven leader on the council. She’s one of the most detailed people I’ve met in my life. She’s balanced, very thoughtful and willing to spend the time it takes to research issues.”

Jones has also served on the Board of Missoula Aging Services as the City Council liaison, the University Committee on Fraternities and Sororities at the University of Montana and as one of two City Council liaisons on the Fox Triangle Working Group, according to her website.

Jones’ father grew up on a ranch outside of Miles City and her mother grew up in Whitefish and Libby. She was born in Missoula and grew up in the University District.

Also Read | Missoula Mayor John Engen dies of pancreatic cancer at 57, tributes pour in

After attending college at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, she lived in San Francisco for two years where she worked as a legal assistant. She then attended law school at the University of Colorado, in Boulder, Colorado.

She met her husband, Andrew Koenig, while in law school. She later moved with her husband to Ventura, California, where she practiced civil litigation law for seven years. She has three children – Chase, Kate, and Rex – who were born in California. In 2004, she moved to Montana.