After more than 20 years in City Council -- 12 of them as Council president -- Darrell Clarke will not seek re-election for another four-year term.
NBC10's Miguel Martinez-Valle was there as Clarke announced on Thursday that, "after serious consideration," he has decided not to run for another term after his current term expires at the end of this year.
"Some people have asked 'why has it taken you so long to make a decision?'," Clarke said. "This is a not a decision that one makes very easily or very quickly."
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As noted in a press release on Clarke's decision, he was first elected to City Council as 5th District Councilmember in 1999, replacing former 5th District Member and Council President John F. Street, who resigned to run for Mayor.
Clarke was re-elected to Council in 2003, 2007 and 2011 – after which he obtained the support of his Council colleagues to succeed Anna Verna as Council President.
He was re-elected to Council in 2015 and 2019, and unanimously supported each time by his colleagues for another term as Council President, noted Clarke's office.
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“We have much more work to do this year,” Clarke said in a statement. “Implementing reforms to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, rolling out the first class of Public Safety Enforcement Officers, creating a new Chief Public Safety Director, studying our workforce and recommending reforms to help with worker attraction and retention, creating a new Deputy Commerce official focused on job creation – all these initiatives and others are on the plate in 2023. We have work to do.”
Shortly after Clarke's announcement, Mayor Jim Kenney released a statement on the longtime councilmember's service to the community.
“I want to thank Council President Darrell L. Clarke for being a valued colleague and a friend throughout my time in office and on City Council. Darrell has served our city unwaveringly for four decades, championing historic progress and also providing vital leadership amid unprecedented challenges," the mayor said in a statement. "It’s been an honor to work alongside him on our shared goals – including education, housing, and jobs – and I congratulate him on a distinguished career in public service. I look forward to working together over the next ten months to set a strong foundation for our city’s next chapter.”
As for what's next for the lawmaker, Clarke said that he plans to work hard for the next ten months and to remain involved in public service after his term comes to an end.
"At the end of the day, I think it's my time to do some other things," said Clarke. "I will continue to be involved in public service. I will max out for the next ten months, as it relates to what I'm going to do with my collogues in the City Council of Philadelphia. There will be no slowing down."
