Cherelle Parker elected subsequent mayor of Philadelphia

By BROOKE SCHULTZ Related Press/Report for America

Cherelle Parker, a Democrat who has held workplace on the state and native degree after first turning into concerned in politics as a youngster, was elected Tuesday as Philadelphia’s a hundredth mayor, turning into the primary lady to carry the publish.

Parker, 51, emerged from a crowded area of Democrats within the Might major and was closely favored over Republican David Oh within the metropolis, a Democratic stronghold. She is going to change Democrat Jim Kenney, who was ineligible for reelection resulting from time period limits.

She campaigned on a promise to make Philadelphia the “most secure, cleanest, greenest massive metropolis within the nation that may present entry to financial alternative for all.”

Parker, who served for 10 years as a state consultant for Northwest Philadelphia earlier than her election to Metropolis Council in 2015, touted herself as a pacesetter whose authorities expertise would permit her to deal with gaping issues within the metropolis.

“We are able to’t resolve these issues alone,” she mentioned in a earlier interview. “We want federal, state and native authorities, together with the non-public sector and philanthropic communities, to assist us handle the general public well being and security.”

Parker’s average message resonated with voters who’re more and more fearful about public security in addition to quality-of-life points, from defective streetlights to potholes to trash assortment.

“We may have a police division that’s supported by the mayor that’s the greatest, well-trained and is proactively engaged and woven into the material of our communities, together with psychological well being and behavioral well being helps, together with social and human providers and connection to employment alternatives and workforce improvement handle and high quality of life points,” she mentioned.