Christopher Doherty is an American politician and former mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Political career

He was first elected mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 2001. Doherty served as a speaker and panelist for the Brookings Institution American Assembly and Metropolitan Policy Program as well as the Comparative Urban Studies Project at the Woodrow Wilson International Center. Doherty was elected to a third term in November 2009. He was elected president of the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities (PLCM) in 2006. In 2008, Doherty received the PLCM Distinguished Community Service Award, the Local Government Award for Excellence, and was inducted into the Keystone Society for Tourism. Doherty was recognized by the United States Conference of Mayors in 2008 for his efforts to protect the City’s tree canopy. In addition, he serves as a member of the steering committee for the Mayor’s Innovation Project, a learning network of America’s mayors dedicated to efficient government. He supports a woman's right to abortion.

Personal life

Doherty is a graduate of the Scranton Preparatory School and the

College of the Holy Cross The College of the Holy Cross is a private, Jesuit liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts, about 40 miles (64 km) west of Boston. Founded in 1843, Holy Cross is the oldest Catholic college in New England and one of the oldest ...

. He and his wife, Donna, have six children. His great-great-grandfather, Hughie Jennings, is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Political future

Doherty was a candidate in the 2010 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election until February 17, 2010, when he conceded and entered the race to succeed retiring Democratic

state senator A state senator is a member of a state's senate in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a member of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature. Description A state senator is a member of an upper house in the bicameral legislatures of 49 U ...

(and minority leader)

Bob Mellow Robert J. Mellow is an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 22nd District from 1971 to 2010. He also served as the Minority Floor Leader from 1994 to 2010 and Presiden ...

in the 22nd District. Doherty lost in the primary, however, to John Blake. On January 7, 2013, '' The Scranton Times-Tribune'' reported that Doherty would not seek re-election as Mayor of Scranton.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Doherty, Christopher Living people Mayors of Scranton, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Democrats College of the Holy Cross alumni 1958 births