The Hennepin County Open Appointments Policy and MS 383B.102 require the county administrator to seek county board confirmation of unclassified service appointments. With the impending retirement of the incumbent, county administration implemented a succession strategy to allow knowledge transfer and transition. Therefore, the county administrator is recommending appointment and seeks confirmation of Chester Cooper as the assistant county administrator - Operations. 

Mr. Cooper began his over 30-year career with Hennepin County in 1985 with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office as a detention deputy and was promoted to deputy sheriff in 1990. When he was hired in the Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCCR) in 2008, he had attained the rank of Inspector.

Mr. Cooper moved to DOCCR as an area director overseeing Adult Services.  As a result of his strong experience and leadership, in 2015, the county board confirmed his appointment to the unclassified position of DOCCR department director. Mr. Cooper applied his experience and innovative leadership to direct this large department toward advancing evidence-based practices in the corrections area for better outcomes for individuals in the system and our community.

Mr. Cooper’s experience across the organization has strengthened his significant leadership skills. His role as a leader has been constant throughout his career by developing improved services through the lens of diversity and inclusion, innovation, and engagement. Mr. Cooper's vast experience within Hennepin County will serve him well as the assistant county administrator of Operations, overseeing strategic and fiscal management of the county's operations line of business and proposing direction to other leaders on policies and issues related to meet the overall county vision and strategic initiatives.

Again, the county administrator requests the board waive the open appointment policy and confirm Chester Cooper as Assistant County Administrator-Operations, effective 9/3/2017.  The September appointment date will allow for knowledge transfer and transition between the incumbent and Mr. Cooper.