Darrell L. Clarke (born September 17, 1952)[citation needed] is an American politician who was a Democratic member of the Philadelphia City Council from 1999 to 2024, representing the 5th District. From 2012 to 2024, he served as president of the Council.[1][2]
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.
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]
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]
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 a Philadelphia developer backed by Council President Darrell Clarke 'took advantage' of flawed city processes for 'private gain.’[11]
