Darrell L. Clarke

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]

For the footballer, see Darrell Clarke. For the American football player, see Daryll Clark.
Darrell L. Clarke
President of the Philadelphia City Council
Assumed office
January 2, 2012
Preceded byAnna Verna
Member of the Philadelphia City Council
from the 5th district
Assumed office
May 18, 1999
Preceded byJohn Street
Personal details
Born (1952-09-17) September 17, 1952
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic

Early life and education

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

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

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

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

In 2015, City Council President Darrell Clarke approved 1,330 private properties for the Philadelphia Housing Authority (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

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

References
  1. "Council President Darrell L. Clarke - 5th District,". City of Philadelphia.
  2. "Darrell Clarke, Council President". Philadelphia City Council. January 3, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  3. "Shedding light on Council President Darrell Clarke". Philadelphia Inquirer. January 26, 2012.
  4. "Verna Sure of Support, Primary Leaves Her With Votes to Continue as Council Pres". Philadelphia Daily News. May 20, 1999.
  5. "WELKER 99 v. 99". Findlaw.com. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  6. Slobodzian, Joseph A. (June 1, 2007). "Council votes to end city lease with Boy Scouts". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007.
  7. "Philadelphia would sell building to Boy Scouts under proposed settlement - philly-archives". Articles.philly.com. November 18, 2010. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  8. "For property owners, PHA's eminent domain could be an imminent loss". June 16, 2015.
  9. "In Sharswood/Blumberg, residents facing eminent domain want to fight back".
  10. "Philadelphia Housing Authority to seize 1,330 properties for redevelopment".
  11. "Inspector General: Philadelphia developer backed by Council President Darrell Clarke 'took advantage' of flawed city process for 'private gain'".
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