PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Cherelle Parker returned to the public eye for the first time since winning the Democratic primary for Philadelphia mayor. A tooth infection had sidelined her since election night.
Parker spoke with reporters Monday morning after a meeting with Gov. Josh Shapiro, which she said she had intentionally scheduled as her first official act to signal her goal of a closer relationship with Harrisburg.
“We talked about ways to find bipartisan support to fund some of our biggest initiatives,” she said, including full staffing for the police department, 300 new foot and bike patrol officers, a longer school day in better buildings, and cleaner streets.
Parker’s first public appearance was delayed due to a dental emergency on election night. Her dentist actually broke the news to her on Feb. 1: She had a broken tooth that had to come out. But Parker had other ideas.
“I have debates, I have forums. I can’t miss any of this stuff,” she told KYW Newsradio.
She put it off for as long as she could.
After five days of rest and recovery, Parker is ready to jump back into the scrum, get through the November election against Republican David Oh, and begin construction on her plan to heal a city that, according to polls, citizens think is on the wrong track.
“This is where my humble beginnings come into play,” she said. “I do not have delusions of self-grandeur. I can’t do this alone.”
It’s tempting to attribute her 10-point victory to that steely determination, but there was also meticulous planning, coalition-building and disciplined adherence to her message: a safer, cleaner, greener city with opportunity for all.
“I’m just so humbled that the people of our great city believed in that message and shared that vision, and now it’s time to unify our city,” she said.
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Still, Parker knows that will be a lift. Although her victory was decisive, she received more than 80,000 votes, a result of a crowded field and low turnout. She said she understands the work ahead.
“Philadelphians are tired of not seeing tax dollars spent in their neighborhoods, and we have to make them believers again,” she added. “There’s a lot of work ahead of us, but I will not be taking my foot off the gas.”
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