Background:
The Hennepin County Open Appointments Policy and MS 383B.102 require the county administrator to seek county board confirmation of unclassified service appointments.
Through administrator amendment no. 14 to the 2020 proposed operating budget, the county administrator created a new Disparity Reduction line of business. The business line will include: The Center of Innovation and Excellence; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Purchasing & Contract Services. The county administrator is recommending appointment and seeks confirmation of Chester Cooper as the assistant county administrator-Disparity Reduction.
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.
Since 2017, Mr. Cooper has served as the assistant county administrator over the Operations line of business while doubling as a change agent and driving force behind the county's disparity reduction efforts. Mr. Cooper’s experience across the organization has strengthened his significant leadership skills. His role as a thought 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 positions him perfectly to oversee the strategic and transformational work of the county's disparity reduction line of business.
Again, the county administrator requests the board waive the open appointment policy and confirm Chester Cooper as Assistant County Administrator-Disparity Reduction, effective 01/05/20.