PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke is retiring next month. He leaves office on Jan. 1, but his influence will be felt for many years.
City Council passes hundreds of pieces of legislation every year. In the 17-member body, nine votes are needed for passage. But week after week, bill after bill passed 17-0. In a body full of big egos and strong opinions, Clarke could get consensus on just about everything.
“That’s because we took the time to make sure everybody was comfortable with what we did and I feel really good about that,” he said.
These were not minor issues. Through charter changes he proposed, Clarke was able to transform the strong mayor charter into a power-sharing document. Council now has a say in the mayor’s appointments to the zoning board and the school board, and has its own staff of budget experts and legal counsel to parallel the administration’s.
Clarke frames it not as an expansion of power.
“City council was elected, just like the mayor,” he said. “The things that we’ve done, I like to say it created a more inclusive and transparent environment.”
The power of Clarke’s leadership was evident recently when he didn’t use it. Council was unable to reach a deal on a budget bill for weeks and multiple sources say it was because Clarke did not get involved until it looked like council might blow the deadline for passage before its term ended. He declined to comment, but he does take pride in what council has done under his leadership.
“Council has always stepped to the plate,” he said. “We were elected to bring support to the citizens of Philadelphia and I’m happy to say that City Council has done what it was asked to do and, in some cases, even more.”
Clarke is handing over the reins to Kenyatta Johnson and his district, to Jeff Young, a former staffer. Clarke anticipates some bumps but says he’s set Young up for success.
“Jeff will be in a position to be cutting a lot of ribbons and a lot of groundbreakings over the next year but then, ultimately, he’ll have to build up his own level of process.”
There is no doubt Clarke will be missed. At his final council session on Dec. 14, every member heaped praise on him. He returned their affection.
“I just appreciate so much having been given this opportunity and I thank you all and I love you all, God bless you.”
Clarke’s plans for the future include buying a race car, but he promised to remain available to members and new Council President Johnson.