In one of her campaign ads, Cherelle Parker, then the Democratic nominee for mayor in Philadelphia, speaks candidly about the power of representation.
“We’ve had 99 mayors and not one of them looks like you or me,” she told voters. “Let’s just say that I’ll bring a different touch.”
Indeed, Parker was handily elected Philadelphia’s 100th mayor on Tuesday, with 73.8% of the vote against Republican David Oh. The win is historic, with Parker shattering barriers to become both the city’s first woman and first Black woman in its executive seat.
Born to a single teenage mother who died during Parker’s childhood, the 51–year-old mayor-elect was raised by her grandparents. She attended public schools and cut her teeth in politics as a high school intern for then-Philadelphia City Councilwoman Marian Tasco.
Parker became the first in her family to attend college, and after graduating from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, she taught high school English as well as English as a Second Language to immigrant children and adults. Later, she earned a Master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
Encouraged by Tasco to return to public service, she accepted a City Council position and rose through the ranks to become a senior staffer to her political mentor.
In 2005, Parker made history as the youngest Black woman elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing northwest Philadelphia.
In the state House she chaired the city delegation, earning a reputation as an effective legislator who championed public policies aimed at enhancing the quality of life for working-class people, seniors, women, children and families.
After a decade serving as a state representative, Parker was elected to the Philadelphia City Council in November 2015. She served the 9th District until stepping down to run for mayor, and won a hotly contested primary with 32% of the vote.
Rep. Dwight Evans, a Democrat who represents Pennsylvania’s 3rd…
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