Charlie Dooley
Encyclopedia
Charlie A. Dooley is an American
politician
. He currently serves as the County Executive
of St. Louis County, Missouri
. Dooley is the first African American
to hold this position. He is a Democrat
.
and graduated from Wellston High School. He served in the United States Army
during the Vietnam War
and was honorably discharged in 1968. After his military service, Dooley went to work for McDonnell Douglas
(now Boeing
)and retired after 30 years of service in 1999.
, where he and his family reside. Dooley was elected as an Alderman
in Northwoods in 1978, and in 1983 he was elected mayor
. He served as mayor until he was elected to the St. Louis County Council in 1994. He was the first African-American elected to the council, and was re-elected in 1998 and 2002. In 2000, Dooley was an unsuccessful candidate for election to Congress
. He lost the Democratic primary
to Lacy Clay
in a race to succeed Clay's father, Bill Clay
.
In 2003, Dooley was appointed County Executive, following the death of County Executive Buzz Westfall
. In November 2004, a special election was held to fill the remainder of Westfall's term. Dooley won the election defeating the Republican
nominee, former County Executive Gene McNary
.
In 2006 Dooley was reelected to a full term as County Executive, defeating the Republican nominee, Joe Passanise, by gaining 67% of the vote. In a difficult mid-term election season for Democrats, Dooley was elected to serve a second full term as County Executive in 2010, defeating the Republican nominee, Bill Corrigan
, 51.1% to 46.7%, with the Libertarian
candidate receiving 2.2% of the vote.
Dooley was recently criticized for creating a position; director of the office of compliance, during what many assumed was a hiring freeze. This position has since identified and produced more than $300,000 in unpaid tax liabilities in its first 3-months.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He currently serves as the County Executive
County executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
of St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
. Dooley is the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to hold this position. He is a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Early life and career
Dooley grew up in St. Louis, attending the St. Louis Public SchoolsSt. Louis Public Schools
St. Louis Public Schools is the school district that operates public schools in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, United States. With a 2005 enrollment of approximately 33,000 students it is the largest public school district in the state of Missouri. Its headquarters is in Downtown St...
and graduated from Wellston High School. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and was honorably discharged in 1968. After his military service, Dooley went to work for McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. It formed from a merger of McDonnell Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft in 1967. McDonnell Douglas was based at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport...
(now Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
)and retired after 30 years of service in 1999.
Political career
Dooley's political career began with part-time positions in the village of NorthwoodsNorthwoods, Missouri
Northwoods is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,227 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Northwoods is located at ....
, where he and his family reside. Dooley was elected as an Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
in Northwoods in 1978, and in 1983 he was elected mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
. He served as mayor until he was elected to the St. Louis County Council in 1994. He was the first African-American elected to the council, and was re-elected in 1998 and 2002. In 2000, Dooley was an unsuccessful candidate for election to Congress
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He lost the Democratic primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
to Lacy Clay
William Lacy Clay, Jr.
William Lacy Clay, Jr., usually known as Lacy Clay is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
in a race to succeed Clay's father, Bill Clay
Bill Clay
William Lacy "Bill" Clay, Sr. is a politician from the state of Missouri. As Congressman from Missouri's First District, he represented portions of St. Louis in the U.S. House of Representatives for 32 years....
.
In 2003, Dooley was appointed County Executive, following the death of County Executive Buzz Westfall
Buzz Westfall
George "Buzz" Westfall was an American lawyer and politician. He served in the elected offices of Prosecuting Attorney and County Executive of St. Louis County, Missouri. He died, while in office, of staph. aureous meningitis. He was a Democrat.Westfall grew up in public housing in St. Louis....
. In November 2004, a special election was held to fill the remainder of Westfall's term. Dooley won the election defeating the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee, former County Executive Gene McNary
Gene McNary
Gene McNary is an American politician. Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Executive Director of the Missouri Gaming Commission, and County Executive of St. Louis County...
.
In 2006 Dooley was reelected to a full term as County Executive, defeating the Republican nominee, Joe Passanise, by gaining 67% of the vote. In a difficult mid-term election season for Democrats, Dooley was elected to serve a second full term as County Executive in 2010, defeating the Republican nominee, Bill Corrigan
Bill Corrigan
William M. "Bill" Corrigan, Jr., is an American politician and lawyer. He served as one of the youngest presidents of the Missouri State Bar Association and he won the 2010 Republican primary election for county executive of St. Louis County, Missouri....
, 51.1% to 46.7%, with the Libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
candidate receiving 2.2% of the vote.
Controversy
Under Dooley St. Louis County set up a system of trash districts to reduce trash collection costs to St. Louis County residents while expanding recycling and bulk collection programs. The existing waste haulers, filed suit against St. Louis County claiming that there was a breach of an implied two year notice. Litigation is still pending. Since the inception of the trash districts, the contracts have been extended to 5 year terms, to begin in October 2011, and will produce dollar savings for county residents which are estimated in the millions.Dooley was recently criticized for creating a position; director of the office of compliance, during what many assumed was a hiring freeze. This position has since identified and produced more than $300,000 in unpaid tax liabilities in its first 3-months.