‘Big Mama’ Permanently Exits Beasley As School Board Bid Awaits

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This story has been updated from its original June 20, 2022 distribution to reflect updated information shared August 10 with Streamline Publishing.


 

FORT MYERS BEACH, FLA. — To listeners of a Beasley Media Group Top 40 station in its home market, he’s known as “Big Mama.” To the Lee County Florida School Board, he’s candidate Jason Jones.

With his candidacy, this longtime morning show zookeeper in June took time away from the program he lead to avoid any equal time requirements the FCC enforces.

Now, he’s permanently gone from the station, as “Big Mama and the Wild Bunch” formally concludes its 14 years at WXKB “B103.9.”

Jones had been absent from the wake-up program since Friday, June 10. The reason: He’s running against Lee County School Board Chairman Debbie Jordan and two other candidates for the seat. As such, the other cast members of the morning show were given control.

The future at B103.9 changed for Jones, and the now-former host posted to social media last night that he’s no longer with the station. He added, “the story will come out soon.”

Jones was taken off the air to avoid the FCC’s requirement of having to offer equal time to other candidates. He is running against the Lee County School Board Chairman Debbie Jordan and two other candidates.

Jones, a Dayton, Ohio, native, is married and has three kids. He’s touting his work in the community as a radio host as one of the reasons residents of Lee County, home to Fort Myers, should vote for him.

WBBH-20 in Fort Myers in July reported that Jones was once incarcerated. Indeed, six months of confinement prevented him from getting hired by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Furthermore, Jones was court martialed while serving in the U.S. Army.

What happened? Jones hit a man in the leg with a baseball bat to keep him from re-enlisting. “I made a bad decision trying to help a friend back in the military days. It was a decision I made as a young man and it was a bad decision,” Jones responded. The report says he pleaded guilty in 1993. He served six months in confinement or military jail and  was discharged for bad conduct, WBBH reported.

Saying he’s not the same man as he was nearly 30 years ago, Jones successfully saw charges dropped against him for grand theft or illegal use of a credit card.

Jones, however, also received numerous toll violations he didn’t pay after crossing Lee County’s toll bridges.  He pleaded no contest and paid nearly $3,000 in fines. Jones’ explanation? He had an expired Sunpass and said the bills had been going to the wrong address.

The primary election is August 23.

— With reports from RadioInk.com