Cherelle Parker

Cherelle L. Parker (born 1973) is an American politician who is a former Democratic member of the City Council of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, representing the Ninth District. She was elected on November 3, 2015, in the general election.[2] Previously, she served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 200th District from 2005 until 2015.[3]

Cherelle Parker
Parker in 2022
Member of the Philadelphia City Council from the 9th District
In office
January 4, 2016 – September 7, 2022
Preceded byMarian B. Tasco
Succeeded byAnthony Phillips
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 200th district
In office
2005 – December 31, 2015
Preceded byLeAnna Washington
Succeeded byTonyelle Cook-Artis
Personal details
Born1973 (age 49–50)
Mount Airy, Pennsylvania
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceMount Airy, Pennsylvania
Alma materLincoln University, 1994
ProfessionProject Development Coordinator (2001-2005)[1]

She is a candidate in the Democratic primary in the 2023 Philadelphia mayoral election.

Early life

Parker grew up in a neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia, raised by her mother; she never knew her father. When she was 11, her mother died and she was raised by her grandparents, who were both from the rural south. Her grandmother died when she was 16, which left only her grandfather, a disabled Navy veteran, to raise her. In 1990 Parker won a high school speaking contest put on by council member Augusta Clark, which earned her the chance to give her speech in front of City Council, as well as a cash prize and a trip to Africa. While still in high school, she interned for council member Marian Tasco.[4]

Parker studied at Lincoln University and earned a Master of Science in Education. Her first job was as a high school English teacher. Marian Tasco asked Parker to join her city hall office in 1995, and she worked there for ten years, filling a variety of roles.[4]

Political career
Parker in 2016

In 2005, she ran in a special election for state representative to fill the spot left open by LeAnna Washington, and won. She remained in that office for ten years, five of which she was chair of the Philadelphia Delegation. Her accomplishments in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives include the "Philadelphia Tax Fairness Package", a special cigarette tax, and the 2012 Act 75, which amended state law to allow expert testimony in sexual assault cases.[4]

When Tasco retired from City Council in 2015, the Democratic Party chose Parker to run as her replacement, and she won. During her time in City Council, she has led the passage of the "Philly First Home" program.[4]

In February 2021, Parker was elected to the chair of the board for the Delaware River Port Authority.[5]

Personal life

Parker is a wife and mother residing in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia.

In 2015, Parker lost her appeal of a drunk driving conviction and began serving her sentence of three days in jail, a $1000 fine, and a 1-year license suspension.[6]

See also

References
  1. "Representative Cherelle L. Parker". Vote Smart. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  2. "Philadelphia Official Citywide Election Results". www.phillyelectionresults.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  3. "2005 Special Election for the 200th Legislative District". Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information. Pennsylvania Department of State. 2004. Archived from the original on November 28, 2008. Retrieved August 14, 2009.
  4. West, Tony (November 21, 2019). "Cherelle Parker: The Girl Who Found a Home in City Hall". Philadelphia Public Record. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  5. Marin, Max (February 17, 2021). "Politics power move: Cherelle Parker, expected candidate for Philly mayor, elected DRPA chair". Billy Penn. WHYY. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  6. "Rep. Cherelle Parker's DUI sentence upheld". Philly.com. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
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