Philadelphia

Darrell Clarke Will Not Run for Mayor

Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke said Monday that he will not run for mayor and instead seek a fifth term representing the 5th district in council — which encompasses portions of North Philadelphia and Center City.

The entire Philadelphia political class has been in a holding pattern over the past few months waiting for Clarke's decision. Potential candidates such as Councilman Jim Kenney and City Controller Alan Butkovitz, both of whom have a similar base of financial and political support with organized labor, have stayed out of the race while Clarke pondered his future. Butkovitz has said he will not run. Like Clarke, Kenney would have to resign his council seat to run for mayor.

Clarke, 62, would have certainly been a front-runner in the race. The North Philadelphia native and Edison High School graduate was a longtime aide to John Street during his nearly 30 years representing the 5th district. When Street resigned the seat to run for mayor in 1999, Clarke was elected to replace his former boss. He became council president in 2012 and like Street, has not seen eye-to-eye with current Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter on a variety of issues.

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