Charles C. O'Donnell

Charles Carroll O'Donnell (May 3, 1834 – May 27, 1912) was an American physician, politician and perennial candidate who served as coroner of San Francisco from 1885 to 1887. A founding member of the Workingmen's Party of California, O'Donnell was known for the Anti-Chinese racism that colored most of his campaigns. He ran for office so many times that, upon his death, The San Francisco Call remarked that "a municipal campaign in this city was never complete without Doctor O'Donnell being among the candidates."

Political career

In 1878, O'Donnell was elected a delegate to California's Second Constitutional Convention on the Workingmen's ticket, representing San Francisco. He also ran for Governor of California in 1886, Congress in 1900, and California Railroad Commission in 1902. Despite running in most elections as an Independent, he earned over 30% of the vote in his first four runs for Mayor and often came in second place.

Coroner O'Donnell's term as coroner has received mixed historical appraisals. In 1938, historian Robert E. Cowan described O'Donnell as "one of the most capable and efficient coroners the city has had," highlighting the institution of several reforms that were still in force fifty years later. from 1868 to 1871.

O'Donnell's son, George Washington O'Donnell, was also a doctor. Like his father, he was "notorious" for performing illegal abortions, and by 1921 had been arrested thirty times for such operations.

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