Mary Pat Clarke
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| Mary Pat Clarke | |
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Baltimore City Council District 14
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| In office January, 2003 – Present |
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| Preceded by | Lisa Stancil |
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46th President Baltimore City Council
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| In office 1987 – 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Clarence "Du" Burns |
| Succeeded by | Lawrence Bell |
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Baltimore City Council district 2
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| In office 1975 – 1983 |
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| Born | June 22, 1941 Providence, Rhode Island |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Joe Clarke |
| Profession | teacher |
Mary Pat Clarke is an American politician who represents the district 14 in the Baltimore City Council. She is arguably the most recognized person in Baltimore, Maryland politics having served as council president and council member more more than 25 years. [1] She is the first woman ever elected president of the Baltimore City Council and the only non-incumbent to win a council seat since single-member districts were mandated by Baltimore voters through Question P in 2002. [2]
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[edit] Background
Clarke was born in Providence, Rhode Island on June 22, 1941. She attended Immaculata College where she received an A.B. in 1963 and the a M.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1966.[3] "Mary Pat", by profession, is a teacher. She has instructed students at the Johns Hopkins University School of Professional Studies, the Maryland Institute College of Art and the University of Maryland Baltimore County.[4] Mary Pat and Joe Clarke are the parents of four adult children, all graduates of the Baltimore City Public School system, and six grandchildren. Her husband Joe, also a teacher, is a developer as well. While out of public office, Clarke served the Mount Saint Agnes Theological Center from 1997 to 1998 by overseeing public relations and working to develop a stable financial base and an expanded curriculum for future students.
[edit] In the Council
Currently, as a member of the Baltimore City council, Clarke is the vice-Chair of the Education, Housing, Health and Human Services Committee, a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Land Use and Transportation Committee (highways & franchises subcommittee).[5] Remembered for such daring efforts as spending the night once in a now demolished public housing project to bring attention to deplorable living conditions for poor people in the city, Clarke has enjoyed support from blacks and whites in all of her races. It was Clarke who set the standard, in Baltimore politics, for integrated slates while running for office. She and her New Democratic Club forged alliances with Baltimore's black democratic clubs in the 1970's resulting in the election of several African Americans to the City Council, as well as her own. In the council, she forged alliances with her black colleagues, such as the one with Kweisi Mfume resulting in a Baltimore City mandate for smaller class sizes in the 1980's.
[edit] 2007 election
Clarke faced two low-profile challengers in her 2007 re-election bid: one democrat in the primary election and one republican in the general election. Neither candidate posed much of a threat to Clarke's re-election.
[edit] Notes
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