Darrell L. Clarke (politician)
Encyclopedia
Darrell L. Clarke is an American
politician, and member of the Democratic Party
. He is currently a member of the Philadelphia City Council
, where he represents the Fifth District, which emcompasses 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.
.
, who represented the Fifth District for nearly three decades, and eventually became Council President.
, who became the General Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee
. By virtue of his position as Council President, Street was automatically elevated to the office of Mayor.
Clarke ran for, and was elected to, Street's Fifth District seat in the 1999 special election held on the day of the state's primary.
, and is the Chair of the Fiscal Stability and Public Property Committees and Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. He is also currently running for the position of Council President for the Council's next session; the position will be vacated by the retiring Anna C. Verna
.
One of Clarke's most notable legislative actions was his support of the bill to evict the Cradle of Liberty Council
of the Boy Scouts of America
from their 80 year old building over their refusal to allow homosexuals to serve as scoutmasters.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, and member of the Democratic Party
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...
. He is currently a member of the Philadelphia City Council
Philadelphia City Council
The Philadelphia City Council, the legislative body of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, consists of ten members elected by district and seven members elected at-large. The council president is elected by the members from among their number...
, where he represents the Fifth District, which emcompasses 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.
Early life and education
A native of North Philadelphia, Clarke graduated from Edison High SchoolEdison High School
Edison High School is the name of many schools named after Thomas Edison:Schools with the full name:*Thomas A. Edison High School — Jamaica, Queens*Thomas A. Edison High School — Elmira Heights, New York...
.
Political career
Clarke was a longtime aide to John StreetJohn F. Street
John Franklin Street was the 97th Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. He was first elected to a term beginning on January 3, 2000, and was re-elected to a second term beginning in 2004...
, who represented the Fifth District for nearly three decades, and eventually became Council President.
Election to city council
In December of 1998, Street resigned as a member of the City Council and as the body's President. His resignation was prompted by that of Mayor Ed RendellEd Rendell
Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
, who became the General Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
. By virtue of his position as Council President, Street was automatically elevated to the office of Mayor.
Clarke ran for, and was elected to, Street's Fifth District seat in the 1999 special election held on the day of the state's primary.
City council tenure
Clarke currently serves as the Council's Majority WhipWhip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
, and is the Chair of the Fiscal Stability and Public Property Committees and Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. He is also currently running for the position of Council President for the Council's next session; the position will be vacated by the retiring Anna C. Verna
Anna C. Verna
Anna Cibotti Verna is the current President of the Philadelphia City Council on which she has served since 1975 as the representative of the Second District, which encompasses most of South Philadelphia as well as most of the western end of Center City. She is a Democrat. Her husband operates a...
.
One of Clarke's most notable legislative actions was his support of the bill to evict the Cradle of Liberty Council
Cradle of Liberty Council
The Cradle of Liberty Council is a Boy Scouts of America council created in 1996 with the merger of the former Philadelphia Council and the former Valley Forge Council .-History:The present council is the result of the 1996 merger of Philadelphia and Valley Forge councils...
of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
from their 80 year old building over their refusal to allow homosexuals to serve as scoutmasters.
See also
- Past Members of the Philadelphia City CouncilPast Members of the Philadelphia City CouncilThis is a list of former Philadelphia, Pennsylvania city council members.-Current city council members:The current City Council sit until the next election, scheduled for 2011, with those elected taking office in January 2012.-Past city councils:...
External links
- Councilman Darrell L. Clarke - 5th District official city website