Mary Pat Clarke

Mary Pat Clarke (born June 22, 1941) is an American politician who represented the 14th district in the Baltimore City Council. She served in Baltimore, Maryland politics as both council president and council member for 24 out of the last 35 years as of 2010.^[1] She is the first woman ever elected president of the Baltimore City Council and until 2016 was the only non-incumbent to win a council seat since single-member districts were mandated by Baltimore voters through Question P in 2002.^[2]

Mary Pat Clarke
Member of the Baltimore City Council from the 14th district
In office January 2003 – December 2020
Preceded by	Lisa Stancil
Succeeded by	Odette Ramos
46th President of the Baltimore City Council
In office 1987–1995
Preceded by	Clarence "Du" Burns
Succeeded by	Lawrence Bell
Member of the Baltimore City Council from the 2nd district
In office 1975–1983
Personal details
Born	(1941-06-22) June 22, 1941 (age 82) Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Joe Clarke ​ ​ (m. 1964; died 2024)​
Alma mater	Immaculata College (AB) University of Pennsylvania (MA)
Profession	teacher

Additionally, Clarke unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 1995^[3]

Early life and education

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.^[4]

Career

Clarke, 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.^[5]

Clarke was a founding board member of the Greater Homewood Community Corporation and later president and executive director.^[6] She was instrumental in securing audio equipment for the first performance of Unchained Talent at the Lake Clifton Campus, and she was a funding board member of the non-profit Unchained Talent.^[7]

Clarke announced in May 2019 that she would retire from the Baltimore City Council in December 2020.^[8] For the 2020 Democratic primary, Clarke endorsed Odette Ramos to succeed her as the council member for the 14th district.^[8]

Politics

In the council

Currently, as a member of the Baltimore City Council, Clarke was the Chair of the Education Committee, vice-Chair of the Judiciary and Legislative Investigation Committee, a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Land Use and Transportation Committee (highways & franchises subcommittee).^[9] While running for office, Clarke pushed for integrated slates. She and her New Democratic Club forged alliances with Baltimore's black democratic clubs in the 1970s 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 1980s.

2007 election

Clarke faced two low-profile challengers in her 2007 re-election bid: one democrat, Tom Conradt, a University of Baltimore Law School graduate and burgeoning Baltimore political figure, in the primary election and one Republican in the general election.^{[citation needed][10][11][12]}

Personal life

Clarke and her husband Joe have four adult children, all graduates of the Baltimore City Public School system, and ten grandchildren. Her husband, 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.^{[citation needed][13]} Joe Clarke died at the age of 83 on February 10, 2024, from complications from a fall at his home.^[14]

References

1. Baltimore Citypaper.com Campaign Beat September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
2. Baltimore City Council: 14th District June 22, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
3. "1995 Baltimore City Election". elections.maryland.gov. from the original on March 23, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
4. Ray, editor, Nancy Boyd (1990). Margaret Roberts (ed.). The City of Baltimore Municipal Handbook 1990. Baltimore: Mayor and City Council of Baltimore. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
5. "Hey 14". Baltimore City Paper. Retrieved August 29, 2007. ^{[dead link]}
6. "Mary Pat Clarke". Maryland State Archives. from the original on March 31, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
7. Loh, Laura. "The long-silent stage at Lake Clifton-Eastern High School reawakens through the efforts of students and community volunteers". baltimoresun.com. Baltimore Sun. from the original on June 8, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
8. "Mary Pat Clarke backs Odette Ramos for her 14th District seat". Baltimore Fishbowl. September 12, 2019. from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
9. "Mary Pat Clarke | Baltimore City Council". baltimorecitycouncil.com. from the original on May 16, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
10. "2007 Baltimore City Primary Official Election Results". www.elections.maryland.gov. from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
11. "2007 Baltimore City General Official Election Results". www.elections.maryland.gov. from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
12. "Boxelder Consulting » Thomas Conradt". from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
13. "Theology center for women vows survival after losing its home". natcath.org. from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
14. Kelly, Jacques (February 14, 2024). "J. Joseph Clarke, developer and husband of Mary Pat Clarke, dies". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 14, 2024.

External links

• MaryPatClarke.com