Rausch Challenger Moves onto Civil Service Commission

The mystery around former Rep. Shawn Dooley's late-term resignation is over: he landed another state job.

Dooley suddenly resigned from the House on Dec. 27, with only a week left on his term. Reached by the News Service on Tuesday, he confirmed that he started working last week as a commissioner on the state Civil Service Commission, a job he said he was appointed to by the outgoing Baker administration.

"It's very interesting," he said on his drive home, mentioning the panel's role in resolving disputes between municipalities and unions. "I'm able to continue being involved in public service."

According to the commission, it hears appeals filed by state and municipal employees and candidates for positions covered by the civil service law, including discipline, layoff, bypass, and examination appeals as well as classification appeals for all state employees.

Sen. Becca Rausch of Needham in November defeated Dooley in his bid to leap from the House to the Senate.

The Wrentham Republican said he plans to remain active this month as a Republican State Committee member. "My focus is Jan. 31 and voting against Jim Lyons," Dooley said, referring to the party chairman who is seeking reelection.

In early 2021, Lyons edged Dooley to hold on to the party chairmanship.

"The course of Massachusetts unfortunately changed dramatically that day," Dooley said.

Republicans lost legislative seats and were swept in statewide races in November. Dooley called it a "disaster on so many levels" for the party and suggested that if he had beat Lyons it might have influenced Gov. Charlie Baker's views about a third term and that Geoff Diehl would not have been the party's nominee for governor. - Michael P. Norton/SHNS | 1/3/23 6:18 PM