Clarence H. Burns
Encyclopedia
For the boxer named Clarence Burns, see Red Burman
.
Clarence H. "Du" Burns (September 13, 1918 – January 12, 2003) was a Democratic
politician and mayor of Baltimore
, Maryland in 1987.
Du Burns was first elected to the Baltimore City Council
in 1971. In 1986, then-Mayor William Donald Schaefer
resigned after being elected Governor of Maryland
. As City Council president, Burns was elevated to mayor in January 1987, becoming the first black mayor in the city's history.
In the 1987 city elections, Burns ran for a full term but was defeated in the Democratic primary by Kurt Schmoke
. He ran again in 1991 with the same result.
In 1991 a new arena on the waterfront near Canton was named for "Du" Burns.1
Red Burman
For the judge who shares the same birth-name, see Clarence H. Burns.James Clarence 'Red' Burman was an American boxer in the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions...
.
Clarence H. "Du" Burns (September 13, 1918 – January 12, 2003) was a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician and mayor of Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland in 1987.
Du Burns was first elected to the Baltimore City Council
Baltimore City Council
The Baltimore City Council is the legislative branch that governs the City of Baltimore and its nearly 700,000 citizens. Baltimore has fourteen single-member City Council districts and representatives are elected for a four-year term. To qualify for a position on the Council, a person must be...
in 1971. In 1986, then-Mayor William Donald Schaefer
William Donald Schaefer
William Donald Schaefer was an American politician who served in public office for 50 years at both the state and local level in Maryland. A Democrat, he was mayor of Baltimore from 1971 to 1987, the 58th Governor of Maryland from January 21, 1987 to January 18, 1995, and the Comptroller of...
resigned after being elected Governor of Maryland
Governor of Maryland
The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
. As City Council president, Burns was elevated to mayor in January 1987, becoming the first black mayor in the city's history.
In the 1987 city elections, Burns ran for a full term but was defeated in the Democratic primary by Kurt Schmoke
Kurt Schmoke
Kurt Lidell Schmoke is the Dean of the Howard University School of Law and a former mayor of Baltimore, Maryland. The son of Murray and Irene B. Reid , he attended the public schools of Baltimore...
. He ran again in 1991 with the same result.
In 1991 a new arena on the waterfront near Canton was named for "Du" Burns.1