Kerry J. Donley Explained

Kerry J. Donley
Office:Chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia
Term Start:November 15, 2003
Term End:June 18, 2005
Preceded:Larry Framme
Succeeded:Richard Cranwell
Office2:Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia
Term Start2:February 27, 1996
Term End2:July 1, 2003
Predecessor2:Patsy Ticer
Successor2:Bill Euille
Birthname:Kerry Joseph Donley
Birth Date:1 February 1956
Death Place:Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Alma Mater:Marquette University
Spouse:Eva Shamblin
Children:5

Kerry Joseph Donley (February 1, 1956 – July 13, 2022) was an American banker and politician who was a Democratic member of the Alexandria, Virginia City Council and previously served as Mayor of Alexandria from 1996–2003 and Chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia.

Background

At the age of 7, Donley and family relocated to Alexandria, Virginia.[1] Donley graduated with a BA in political science and English from Marquette University and has done some graduate studies at the University of Southern California.[2] He was Senior Vice President of Community Banking at Virginia Commerce Bank until 2014, when he became a Senior Vice President at John Marshall Bank.[3]

Community service and political career

Donley began his public service as a member of Washington Area Housing Partners. He also served as a Co-Chair of the Cameron Station Redevelopment Task Force, which oversaw the redevelopment of the headquarters of the Defense Logistics Agency in west Alexandria from 1988 to 2005.[4]

Donley was elected a member of the Alexandria City Council on the Democratic ticket and served from 1988 to 1996. In 1993, he received the most votes for City Council and was thus appointed Vice-Mayor, as is the practice on the Council. In 1996, Donley was elected Mayor of Alexandria. He served two terms until 2003.

After a brief hiatus, Donley ran again for City Council and was again elected in 2009; he served as Vice-Mayor until his retirement from the City Council in 2012. Donley unsuccessfully ran to become mayor again in 2015,[5] losing the Democratic primary.

Death

Donley died of a heart attack at his Alexandria home on July 13, 2022, at the age of 66. He was survived by his wife (Eva Shamblin), their five daughters, and extended family.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Donley, Kerry. Living Legends of Alexandria. 2022-07-15. en-US. August 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210801105753/https://alexandrialegends.org/kerry-donley/. live.
  2. Web site: Washington Post, About the Candidates: Kerry J. Donley . August 26, 2011 . October 6, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121006094503/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2009/elections/va/city-councilor/1311/kerry-j-donley/ . live .
  3. Web site: Former Mayor Kerry J. Donley dies at 66 – Alexandria Times . Denise Dunbar . Alexandria Times . 13 July 2022 . 14 July 2022 . July 15, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220715143410/https://alextimes.com/2022/07/former-mayor-kerry-j-donley-dies-at-66/ . live .
  4. Web site: Cameron Station . August 26, 2011 . December 5, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111205062154/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/cameron-station.htm . live .
  5. Web site: Miles . Vernon . Alexandria: Mayoral Standoff . Alexandria Gazette . 17 November 2019 . 30 April 2015 . November 17, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191117225131/http://www.alexandriagazette.com/news/2015/apr/30/alexandria-mayoral-standoff/ . live .
  6. Web site: Kerry Donley, former Alexandria mayor, dead at 66 WTOP News . Valerie Bonk . Ivy Lyons . WTOP News . 14 July 2022 . 14 July 2022 . July 15, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220715143408/https://wtop.com/alexandria/2022/07/kerry-donley-former-alexandria-mayor-dead-at-66/ . live .