Jerzy Hardie-Douglas (born 1 February 1951) is a politician and surgeon. He was a mayor of Szczecinek from 2006 to 2018, and again since 2024, and a member of the Sejm of Poland from 2018 to 2023.

Jerzy Hardie-Douglas
Jerzy Hardie-Douglas in 2022.
Mayor of Szczecinek
Assumed office
6 May 2024
In office
1 January 2006 – 21 November 2018
Preceded by
Succeeded byDaniel Rak (2018)
Member of the Sejm of Poland
In office
12 November 2018 – 12 November 2023
Member of the Szczecinek County Council
In office
2018–2024
Member of the Szczecinek City Council
In office
2002–2006
In office
1990–1998
Personal details
Born (1951-02-01) 1 February 1951 (age 73)
Łódź, Poland
Political party
ChildrenJakub Hardie-Douglas
EducationMedical University of Łódź
Occupation
  • Politician
  • Surgeon

Biography edit

Jerzy Hardie-Douglas was born on 1 February 1951 in Łódź, Poland.[1] He is Polish of Scottish descent. His ancestor moved to Ukraine from Scotland in the 19th century. His father, Jakub Douglas (1920–1998) fought in the Warsaw Uprising during the Second World War, and his grandfather, James Douglas (1878–1956), was a diplomat and an activist for Polish independence.[2][3]

Following graduating from highschool, he begun working in the emergency medical services in Łódź, and as a hospital nurse in Zgierz. From 1970 to 1972 he studied at the Medical University of Gdańsk, and in 1976, he has graduated from the Medical University of Łódź. He has specialised in medicine, general and oncological surgery. In 1976 he begun working in a hospital in Szczecinek, from 1985 to 1992, he was a director of the city emergency medical services, and from 1992 to 2002, a medical director of the ward of general surgery. Later he worked in a private clinic, and a military clinic.[4][5]

In 1980, he organised structures of the Solidarity trade union at his workplace, and in 1989, a Szczecinek division of the Solidarity Citizens' Committee. From 1990 to 1998 and from 2002 to 2006, he was a member of the Szczecinek City Council, and from 1990 to 1991, he was a deputy mayor. He was a member of the Democratic Union and the Movement of the Hundred, and in 2001 he joined the Civic Platform, and was a chairperson of its division in the Szczecinek County.[2][6] He unsuccessfully run for office of member of the Sejm of Poland on the 2001 parliamentary election.[7]

In 2005 he was elected as the mayor of Szczecinek, being in office from 1 January 2006 to 21 November 2018. He was reelected in 2006, 2010, and 2014, and did not run in 2018.[8][9] Instead, that year he was elected to the Szczecinek County Council.[10]

In 2019, he was elected as a member of the Sejm of Poland, and remained in office until the end of his term in 2023, not running for a reelection.[9][11]

In February 2024, he was removed from the Civic Platform, after he announced his race for the mayor of Szczecinek, running against the party's candidate. He won, beginning his term on 6 May 2024.[8][9]

Private life edit

His son, Jakub Hardie-Douglas (born 1982) is also a politician, who from 2018 to 2024 was a member of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship Sejmik.[12]

References edit

  1. ^ "Jerzy Hardie-Douglas". sejm.gov.pl (in Polish).
  2. ^ a b "Jerzy Hardie-Douglas". gk24.pl (in Polish). 14 October 2010.
  3. ^ Wojciech Skóra: Organizacja i pierwszy okres działalności polskich konsulatów w Harbinie i Władywostoku w latach 1920–1924. In: Andrzej Furier: Polskie ślady na Dalekim Wschodzie. Polacy w Harbinie. Szczecin: Pomeranian Library, 2008. ISBN 978-83-87879-73-0. (in Polish)
  4. ^ "O mnie". douglas.strefaweb.xip.pl (in Polish).
  5. ^ "O mnie: Działalność zawodowa". douglas.strefaweb.xip.pl (in Polish).
  6. ^ "O mnie. Działalność społeczna". douglas.strefaweb.xip.pl (in Polish).
  7. ^ "Wyniki wyborów samorządowych 2001 w okręgu wyborczym nr. 40". wybory2001.pkw.gov.pl (in Polish).
  8. ^ a b "Jerzy Hardie-Douglas wybrany burmistrzem Szczecinka". szczecin.tvp.pl (in Polish). 22 April 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Piotr Szyliński (22 April 2024). "Zmiana w Szczecinku. Wykluczony z PO były wieloletni burmistrz wraca na stanowisko. Rywalowi z Platformy nie dał szans". koszalin.wyborcza.pl (in Polish).
  10. ^ "Wyniki wyborów samorządowych 2018 w powiecie szczecinieckim". wybory2018.pkw.gov.pl (in Polish).
  11. ^ "Jerzy Hardie-Douglas: To jest moja pierwsza i ostatnia kadencja". iszczecinek.pl (in Polish). 1 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Zaglądamy do kieszeni radnego wojewódzkiego. Jedynego ze Szczecinka". temat.net (in Polish). 24 June 2021.