Shawn Dooley

Shawn C. Dooley is an American politician from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in the 9th Norfolk district, succeeding Dan Winslow. The 9th Norfolk District constitutes all or parts of the Towns of Medfield, Millis, Norfolk, Plainville, Walpole, and Wrentham.[1] A member of the Republican Party, he was sworn in January 29, 2014.[2]

Dooley received his bachelor's degree from Auburn University, and a master's degree from Anna Maria College. He is married to Family Law Attorney Carolyn (CiCi) Van Tine and they have four children.[3]

Previously he served as the elected Norfolk Town Clerk as well as the Chairman of the Norfolk School Committee.

Dooley made national headlines for his bill on preventing Chinese owned and other non-market economy nations from participating in the state bid process for critical infrastructure such as rail. The impetus of this bill was when China's government owned CRRC gained the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority contract for manufacturing orange lines cars. His original opinion piece sparked national coverage including Bloomberg, NPR, Washington Post and NBC radio. Similar bills were filed in both the U.S. House and Senate and passed in a bipartisan fashion.[4][5]

Dooley also made national headlines when he became one of eight members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (a body made up of 160 individuals) to vote against a bill that would go on to revoke legal protection for gay conversion therapy. Dooley notably said that a therapist should be allowed to say "no, you're not" if a child discloses that they are gay or transgender.[6]

In August 2020, Representative Dooley wrote an op-ed in the conservative website New Boston Post, criticizing Governor Charlie Baker and calling him "King Charles" for implementing COVID restrictions, after a spike of cases rose in Massachusetts.[7]