Hazel Erby
Hazel Erby | |
---|---|
Member of the St. Louis County Council from the first district | |
In office 2004–2019 | |
Preceded by | Charlie Dooley |
Succeeded by | Rita Heard Days |
Personal details | |
Born | Lincoln University Harris–Stowe State University | September 22, 1945
Hazel M. Erby (September 22, 1945 – July 2, 2021) was an American politician who was a Democratic member of the St. Louis County Council. In 2004, she became the first Black woman on the council and then represented the first district from 2004 to 2019.[2] In 2009, she became the first Black woman to chair the council.[3] In 2019, she became the first Director of Diversity and Inclusion in St. Louis County.[2]
Early life and education
Erby graduated from
Career
Before Erby was elected to the St. Louis County council in 2004, she was president of the
She was a member of the
During her tenure on the county council, she was instrumental in developing support for the 2018 legislation that created standards for minority participation in county contracts.[7] In 2019, she negotiated funding for a recreation center in north St. Louis County.[7]
In 2019, she was hired by County Executive Sam Page as the first director of diversity, equity and inclusion for St. Louis County, and then was fired in August 2020.[3][15] In October 2020, she filed a whistleblower lawsuit and an employment discrimination claim against the county,[16][3] alleging retaliation for her complaints related to the exclusion of minorities from county contracts.[17][18][7]
Personal life
Erby was married to her husband Louis for 56 years.[3] They resided in University City for more than fifty years, and had three children.[11]
Death and legacy
Erby died on July 2, 2021, at the age of 75 from pancreatic cancer.[1][19] After her death, she was described as one of the "Matriarchs of Black Politics" in St. Louis by St. Louis Public Radio.[4] Before she died, the Missouri Legislature declared her birthday, September 22, "Hazel Erby Day."[3][7]
Electoral history
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Hazel Erby | 7,717 | 66.34 | ||
Republican | John W. Scates | 2,101 | 18.06 | ||
Independent
|
Carlton Jones | 1,814 | 15.56 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Hazel Erby | 36,596 | 99.51 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Hazel Erby | 34,873 | 99.16 |
References
- ^ a b "Obituary for Hazel M. Erby". Austin A. Layne Funeral Home. 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
- ^ a b Millitzer, Joe; Bernthal, Jeff (July 2, 2021). "Trailblazing St. Louis County Councilwoman Hazel Erby dies at 75". Fox2. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f Byers, Christine (July 7, 2021). "'A gentle front-line soldier' - Friends remember former St. Louis County Council member Hazel Erby". St.Louis Business Journal. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ a b c Rivas, Rebecca (July 18, 2021). "Betty Thompson And Hazel Erby Became Matriarchs Of Black Politics In St. Louis". St. Louis Public Radio. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ a b Rosenbaum, Jason (July 2, 2021). "Hazel Erby, A Towering Figure In St. Louis County Politics, Dies At 75". St. Louis Public Radio. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ a b "St. Louis County, Missouri".
- ^ a b c d e f Schlinkmann, Mark (July 3, 2021). "Erby remembered as a 'trailblazer for Black women in elected office'". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ Mannies, Jo (July 25, 2017). "'We're fearless': Black women wield unprecedented political clout in the St. Louis area". St. Louis Public Radio. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ISBN 9781439655610. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ McGreal, Chris (22 August 2014). "'Would Michael Brown still be here if we voted for the right people?'". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ a b c Pickney, Darryl (January 8, 2015). "In Ferguson". The New York Review. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ISBN 9781317407126. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ "'Turning Point': Ferguson a Factor in St. Louis County Elections". NBC News. November 4, 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ Mannies, Jo (October 1, 2014). "Coalition of Black Democratic Officials Endorses Republican Stream For County Executive". St. Louis Public Radio. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ Kirn, Jacob (August 19, 2020). "Page fires his one-time rival from diversity job". St.Louis Business Journal. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ "Erby Files Whistleblower Suit Against St. Louis County". STLPR. 2020-10-16. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
- ^ "Ousted diversity director sues St. Louis County". Associated Press. October 16, 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ Benchaabane, Nassim (October 17, 2020). "Ousted diversity director Hazel Erby sues St. Louis County, says Page violated state whistleblower law". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ Benchaabane, Nassim (July 11, 2021). "Public funeral services announced for former St. Louis County Councilwoman Hazel Erby". STLtoday.com. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
External links
- Official Bio
- Remembering Hazel Erby, Who Built An ‘Electoral Behemoth’ In St. Louis County (St. Louis Public Radio, July 7, 2021)