William J. Casey (Massachusetts politician)

William Joseph Casey was an American politician who was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Sheriff of Essex County, Massachusetts.

William J. Casey
Essex County Sheriff
In office
1964–1964
Preceded byRoger E. Wells (acting)
Succeeded byRoger E. Wells
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office
1939–1941
In office
1943–1949
In office
1957–1964
Preceded byJoseph T. Conley
Succeeded byMichael J. Harrington
Lawrence, Massachusetts Commissioner of Public Safety
In office
1950–1954
Preceded byLouis J. Scanlon
Succeeded byLouis J. Scanlon
Personal details
BornJune 27, 1905
Lawrence, Massachusetts
DiedOctober 15, 1992 (aged 87)
Political partyDemocratic
OccupationIndustrial foreman
Politician
Sheriff

Early life

Casey was born on June 27, 1905 in Lawrence, Massachusetts. He attended public and parochial schools in Lawrence. Outside politics Casey worked as an industrial foreman.[1]

Political career

Massachusetts House of Representatives

Casey served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1939 to 1941 and again 1943 to 1949.[1]

Lawrence Alderman/Commissioner of Public Safety

In 1949 Casey was elected Alderman and Commissioner of Public Safety over incumbent Louis J. Scanlon 19,677 votes to 19,551.[2] In 1951 he defeated Scanlon for reelection 19,554 to 17,443.[3]

Massachusetts House of Representatives

Casey returned to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1957.[1] While in the House, Casey supported legislation to give the Mayor of Boston more control over the Boston Police Department (including control over the department's budget and the power to appoint the Police Commissioner) and to construction roads that would provide Lawrence with access to I-93 and I-495.[4][5]

Essex County Sheriff

In 1964, Casey was appointed Sheriff of Essex County by Governor Endicott Peabody to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Earl Wells. On June 4, 1964, the Massachusetts Governor's Council confirmed his appointed 7 to 0 and he was sworn in by Peabody that same day. After taking office, nineteen of the department's deputies and court officers walked-out in support of Special Sheriff (and the son of Earl Wells) Roger E. Wells, who had been passed over in favor of Casey. Casey was able to keep the county's courts running by temporarily replacing the resigning deputies with deputies sent over from Middlesex County.[6][7]

Wells defeated Casey in the special election to fill his father's unexpired term, 136,860 votes to 135,185.[8] Casey challenged Wells in 1968, but lost 159,438 votes to 108,323.[9]

Death

Casey died on October 15, 1992.[10]

References
  1. 1963-1964 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  2. "Mayor Meehan Wins 5th Term in Lawrence". The Boston Daily Globe. December 14, 1949.
  3. "Lawrence Mayor Beaten by Buckley in Election Upset". Boston Daily Globe. December 12, 1951.
  4. "Hub Police Department Bills Defeated in House". The Boston Globe. March 16, 1961.
  5. "Lawrence Plea Rejected For Links With New Pikes". The Boston Globe. June 7, 1962.
  6. "Deputies Walk Out On New Essex Sheriff". The Boston Globe. June 5, 1964.
  7. "Casey Picking Own Deputies". The Boston Globe. June 6, 1964.
  8. Election Statistics of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1964. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  9. Election Statistics of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1968. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  10. "Social Security Death Index".
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