Darrell L. Clarke
Darrell L. Clarke | |
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President of the Philadelphia City Council | |
Assumed office January 2, 2012 | |
Preceded by | Anna Verna |
Member of the Philadelphia City Council from the 5th district | |
Assumed office May 18, 1999 | |
Preceded by | John Street |
Personal details | |
Born | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | September 17, 1952
Political party | Democratic |
Darrell L. Clarke (born September 17, 1952) is an American politician serving as president of the Philadelphia City Council since 2012. A member of the Democratic Party, he has represented the fifth district since 1999, which encompasses North Central Philadelphia, Strawberry Mansion, Lower Hunting Park, Ludlow, Yorktown, West Poplar, Fairhill, Brewerytown, Francisville, Spring Garden, Fairmount, Logan Square, and parts of Northwood, Fishtown, Northern Liberties and Center City. [1] [2]
Early life and education[edit]
A native of North Philadelphia, Clarke grew up in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood. He graduated from Edison High School. He later attended the Community College of Philadelphia but did not graduate. He now resides in the Fishtown neighborhood. [1][3]
Political career[edit]
He was elected as a committeeman himself and became an aide to John Street,[1] who represented the Fifth District for nearly three decades and eventually became Council President.
Election to city council[edit]
In December 1998, Street resigned as a member of the City Council to run for mayor and endorsed Clarke for his seat in the 1999 special election held.[4] Clarke won by only 140 votes over Julie Welker and Dorothy Carn. Welker filed a lawsuit alleging election fraud. The case was decided in Clarke's favor.[5]
City council tenure[edit]
Clarke is a former Majority Whip and is the Chair of the Fiscal Stability and Public Property Committees and Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee.[1] He was elected to the position of Council President after the office was vacated by the retiring Anna Verna.
One of Clarke's legislative actions was his introduction of the bill to end the City-subsidized lease on the 80-year-old headquarters building of the Cradle of Liberty Council of the Boy Scouts of America over their ban on gay scouts.[6] After a protracted legal battle, the bill was overturned in Federal court and the City of Philadelphia was ordered to pay nearly a million dollars in legal fees to the Boy Scouts.[7]
Controversy[edit]
In 2015, City Council President Darrell Clarke approved 1,330 private properties for the Philadelphia Housing Authoirty (PHA) to seize through eminent domain.[8][9][10]
In 2019, the Inspector General stated that Philadelphia developer backed by Council President Darrell Clarke 'took advantage' of flawed city process for 'private gain'[11]
Personal life[edit]
His father, Jerry, was involved in politics as a party committeeman. His mother, Ruth, was employed by the Veterans Administration.
Clarke has one daughter, Dr. Nicole Bright, and a grandson.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Council President Darrell L. Clarke - 5th District,". City of Philadelphia.
- ^ "Darrell Clarke, Council President". Philadelphia City Council. 2020-01-03. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
- ^ "Shedding light on Council President Darrell Clarke". Philadelphia Inquirer. 2012-01-26.
- ^ "Verna Sure of Support, Primary Leaves Her With Votes to Continue as Council Pres". Philadelphia Daily News. May 20, 1999.
- ^ "WELKER 99 v. 99". Findlaw.com. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
- ^ Slobodzian, Joseph A. (2007-06-01). "Council votes to end city lease with Boy Scouts". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29.
- ^ "Philadelphia would sell building to Boy Scouts under proposed settlement - philly-archives". Articles.philly.com. 2010-11-18. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
- ^ "For property owners, PHA's eminent domain could be an imminent loss". 16 June 2015.
- ^ "In Sharswood/Blumberg, residents facing eminent domain want to fight back".
- ^ "Philadelphia Housing Authority to seize 1,330 properties for redevelopment".
- ^ "Inspector General: Philadelphia developer backed by Council President Darrell Clarke 'took advantage' of flawed city process for 'private gain'".
External links[edit]
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- Councilman Darrell L. Clarke - 5th District official city website
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- Presidents of the Philadelphia City Council
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