While working as a community activist in Strawberry Mansion during the late 1970s, Darrell Clarke developed a reputation as someone with “a loud mouth” who had “a lot to say about pretty much everything.” 

Upon realizing that he wasn’t necessarily achieving much, he eventually began his journey into politics, reports Sean Collins Walsh and Anna Orso for The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

In the 1980s, Clarke became the Democratic leader of North Philadelphia’s 32nd Ward and joined the staff of then-City Councilmember John Street. 

In 1999, he replaced Street on City Council when he ran for mayor, and then became Council president in 2012. 

Under his stewardship, almost all bills pass unanimously or close to it and Council’s power relative to the executive branch has grown.

Many encouraged Clarke to run for mayor in 2015, a role he believed he could have had. However, he decided against it.

“When I look at the stuff that we were able to achieve, what else could I have been able to do as mayor?” he said. 

Asked about his crowning achievement, Clarke highlighted his Neighborhood Preservation Initiative, which has funded millions toward affordable housing and commercial corridor development. 

Beyond that, he is most proud of those he has mentored over the years.

Read more about Darrell Clarke’s political career at The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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