Don Cooney

Donald F. Cooney is a professor and former elected official. He was a Kalamazoo City Commissioner from 1997 to 2019 and from 2021 to 2025. He is a professor at Western Michigan University's School of Social Work.

Early life and education Cooney was born in in Philadelphia. At the age of 14, he joined a seminary in New Jersey.

Kalamazoo commissioner Cooney was first elected to the Kalamazoo City Commission in 1997. He served from 1997 until he chose not to run in 2019.

2008 Congressional elections

Cooney filed for the August 5, 2008, Democratic primary election for the United States Representative of on May 12, 2008, in which he was unopposed. He faced Republican Fred Upton in the November 4, 2008 general election.

Cooney's campaign largely focused on differences in economic and energy policy with Upton during the campaign, calling for a new, New Deal to rebuild America's human and physical infrastructure. He has also been a vocal critic of the war in Iraq. Cooney has large popularity in Kalamazoo.

2010 Congressional elections

Cooney was the Democratic nominee for the United States Representative of in 2010 as well, stressing similar themes as in his 2008 run.