- Pat Dougherty
Patrick Dougherty (born
June 30 ,1948 ) is an American Democratic politician. Due to term limits, he retired from political life in 2007 after nearly 30 years of service in the Missouri General Assembly.Education and background
Dougherty was born in
Decatur, Illinois . He attended Quincy College and graduated with a BA degree and also attendedKenrick Theological Seminary . Prior to entering politics, he was a caseworker for the Department of Family Services. He and his wife have three daughters.Political career
In 1978, Dougherty ran for State Representative in a
South St. Louis district close toTower Grove Park . He challengedJohn Blassie , a 12-year incumbent, and defeated him in the Democratic primary. Dougherty went on to win thegeneral election . Dougherty won re-election eleven times, serving in the House until 2001.In 2001, Dougherty was the Democratic nominee in a
special election to fill the State Senate seat vacated byLacy Clay when Clay was elected to Congress in November 2000. Dougherty won the election with nearly 84% of the vote. [http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/allresults.asp?arc=1&eid=49] . Upon his election to the Senate, Dougherty resigned his seat in theMissouri House of Representatives . He was succeeded byMike Daus .In 2002, Dougherty sought election to a full term in the State Senate. He was opposed by State Representative
O.L. Shelton in the Democratic primary. Dougherty defeated Shelton in the primary election [http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/raceresults.asp?eid=78&oid=22830&arc=1] , and was unopposed in the general election [http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/raceresults.asp?eid=87&oid=24724&arc=1] .During his career in the Missouri House and Senate, Dougherty, a former
social worker , has focused on issues impacting families and children. When the Democrats controlled the Missouri House, Dougherty served as chair of the Children, Youth and Families Committee.Due to
term limits Doughtery was unable to run for re-election in 2006. Jeff Smith won a heavily contested Democratic primary to replace Dougherty.External links
* [http://www.senate.mo.gov/05info/members/bios/bio04.htm Dougherty's biography from the Missouri Senate]
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