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The current mayor of Philadelphia, Cherelle Parker, is a lifelong Philadelphian. She was inaugurated as the city's 100th mayor on January 2, 2024, and is the first woman to hold the office in 341 years. Her predecessor, Jim Kenney, was raised Catholic and attended Catholic schools. He was also known for his feuds with the leadership of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia over gay rights legislation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the current mayor of Philadelphia | Cherelle L. Parker |
| Date of inauguration of the current mayor | 2nd January 2024 |
| Previous mayors of Philadelphia | Jim Kenney, Michael Nutter |
| Religion of previous mayors of Philadelphia | Michael Nutter was raised Catholic |
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What You'll Learn
Philadelphia's current mayor, Cherelle Parker
Philadelphia's current mayor, Cherelle L. Parker, is the first woman to hold the position in the city's 341-year history. She is also the city's 100th mayor, taking over the office formerly occupied by Jim Kenney on January 1, 2024.
Parker was born to a single teenage mother and raised by her grandparents, James and Dorothy Parker. She was the first in her family to attend college, earning a bachelor's degree from Lincoln University and a master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Parker began her career as a public school teacher, teaching high school English and ESL to immigrant children and adults. She then entered politics, serving in the State House for 10 years and representing Northwest Philadelphia. During this time, she made history as the youngest African-American woman elected to the State Legislature.
In 2015, Parker returned to the Philadelphia City Council, representing the 9th District in Northwest and Northeast Philadelphia. She was re-elected in 2020 and served as the Council's Majority Leader. As a City Council member, Parker led the passage of the "Philly First Home" program, which assists first-time homebuyers with down payments and closing costs. She also opposed the police tactic of "stop and frisk," but later reversed her position during her campaign for mayor.
Parker ran as a moderate Democrat in the 2023 mayoral election, securing the support of labour unions and members of the city's political establishment. She defeated her opponent, Oh, with 75% of the vote, despite criticism for initially refusing to debate during the campaign. As mayor, Parker aims to make Philadelphia the "safest, cleanest, and greenest big city in the nation, with economic opportunity for all." She has also appointed Kevin Bethel as Police Commissioner and Pedro Rosario as his deputy, the city's first Latino to hold the post.
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Previous mayor, Jim Kenney, attended Catholic school
The current mayor of Philadelphia is Cherelle L. Parker, who was inaugurated on January 2, 2024. She is the 100th mayor of Philadelphia and the first woman to hold the position.
The previous mayor of Philadelphia was Jim Kenney, who was the 99th mayor of Philadelphia. Kenney was inaugurated on January 4, 2016, and was re-elected for a second term in 2019.
Jim Kenney was born on August 7, 1958, in the Whitman neighborhood of South Philadelphia. His parents worked second jobs to put him and his four siblings through private Catholic schools. Kenney graduated from Saint Joseph's Preparatory School in 1976 and received a bachelor's degree in political science from La Salle University in 1980. He was the first in his family to graduate from college.
During his time on Philadelphia's City Council, Kenney served as Chairman of the Council Committee on Labor and Civil Service. He also served as Vice-Chairman of several other committees, including the Committee on Rules, the Committee on the Environment, and the Committee on Law and Government.
As mayor, Kenney was known for his outspoken nature and engagement in numerous feuds with the leadership of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He mobilized various gay rights legislation during his time on the Philadelphia City Council, which was criticized by Catholic leaders in the city. For example, Kenney joined the debate over the firing of a gay faculty member at Waldron Mercy Academy in Merion, accusing the Archdiocese of orchestrating the firing.
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Michael Nutter, mayor from 2008-2016, was raised Catholic
Michael Nutter, the 98th Mayor of Philadelphia, was raised Catholic. He served as mayor from 2008 to 2016 and was a member of the Democratic Party. Nutter was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in West Philadelphia. He attended Catholic schools, including Transfiguration of Our Lord Catholic Elementary School and St. Joseph's Preparatory School in North Philadelphia.
During his time as mayor, Nutter sponsored "The Clean Indoor Air Worker Protection Law," which expanded the definition of "public places" where smoking is prohibited to include restaurants and many bars. He also implemented a local bidder preference program, giving preference to Philadelphia businesses in competitive bidding for city contracts over $25,000. Nutter supported a "Crime Emergency" declaration in selected areas of Philadelphia, which included increased police presence, curfews, and limited gatherings on public sidewalks. This proposal was controversial due to its potential violation of Fourth Amendment rights.
Nutter also faced criticism for initially proposing the closure of eleven libraries in Philadelphia. However, the city council brought a suit to keep the libraries open, and they remained fully operational with restored staffing levels. He was also known for his endorsement of the PhillyRising Collaborative, which aimed to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in challenged communities.
Prior to his mayoral role, Nutter served as the 52nd Ward Democratic Leader until 1990 and was a member of the Philadelphia City Council from the 4th district. He resigned from the city council in 2006 to focus on his mayoral campaign and won the Democratic primary election in 2007 with a significant majority. Nutter was unable to run for a third consecutive term due to the home-rule charter's two-term limit.
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Philadelphia mayoral term limits
The current mayor of Philadelphia is Cherelle Parker, who was inaugurated on January 2, 2024, becoming the city's first female mayor. The mayor of Philadelphia is the chief executive of the government of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as stipulated by the Charter of the City of Philadelphia.
Mayors of Philadelphia are limited to two consecutive four-year terms. This limit was established in 1951 by the City Charter, though it was lifted temporarily in the 1940s, allowing incumbent Bernard Samuel to run for re-election. The two-term limit was reinstated in 1951, and it is a consecutive limit, not a lifetime limit. This means that a mayor who has served two terms may run again after being out of office for at least one term.
The first mayor of Philadelphia was Humphrey Morrey, who was appointed by William Penn, the founder of the city and the colonial-era Province of Pennsylvania. Subsequent mayors, who held office for one year, were elected by the Philadelphia City Council. The initial mayors of Philadelphia were not compensated, and candidates sometimes objected strongly to being selected for the position, even choosing to pay a fine rather than serve.
In 1887, the mayoral term was extended to four years. Philadelphia's 99th mayor, Jim Kenney, was elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019, serving until 2024.
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Philadelphia's first mayor, Humphrey Morrey
Humphrey Morrey, or Murrey (c. 1650–1716), was the first mayor of Philadelphia. He was appointed to the position by William Penn, the founder of the city and the colonial-era Province of Pennsylvania, in 1691. Morrey was not elected but selected by Penn, and he served for ten years in an uncompensated and volunteer position.
Before becoming mayor, Morrey worked as a merchant in Philadelphia, having arrived in the city in 1683. In 1685, he was appointed justice of the peace, and in 1687 and 1690, he was chosen to serve in the provincial assembly. Morrey was succeeded as mayor by Edward Shippen, who was appointed by Penn to a one-year term in 1701 and then re-elected to a second term by the Philadelphia City Council.
The position of mayor in Philadelphia has a long and varied history. The initial mayors were not compensated, and some candidates strongly objected to being selected for the role, even choosing to pay a fine rather than serve. For example, in 1745, Abraham Taylor, a Philadelphia alderman, was fined thirty pounds for refusing to become mayor. The city council then elected Joseph Turner, who also refused and was fined. Others who refused election included Richard Hill (1717), Isaac Norris (1722), John Mifflin, and Alexander Stedman.
The rules and protocols around the election of the mayor in Philadelphia have evolved over time. In 1826, the Philadelphia City Council changed its rules to allow any Philadelphia citizen to run for the office. From 1839 onwards, mayors were elected by popular vote. The term length for mayors has also changed, starting with one-year terms, then moving to two years in 1854, three years in 1861, and finally four years in 1885. The Act of 1885 prohibited mayors from serving consecutive terms, but this prohibition was lifted in the 1940s.
In more recent times, the mayor of Philadelphia has been held by Democrats for over seven decades, since 1952. The current mayor, Cherelle Parker, is the first woman to hold the position. She was inaugurated as the 100th mayor on January 2, 2024, and is a former public school teacher and state legislator.
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Frequently asked questions
Cherelle L. Parker is the current mayor of Philadelphia. She was inaugurated as the 100th mayor of Philadelphia on January 2, 2024.
I cannot find definitive proof that the current mayor of Philadelphia, Cherelle L. Parker, is Catholic. However, she attended public schools and colleges, which are generally non-denominational.
Yes, Michael Nutter, the 98th Mayor of Philadelphia from 2008 to 2016, was raised Catholic and attended Catholic schools.
The mayor of Philadelphia is limited to two consecutive four-year terms.
Mayor Cherelle Parker has stated that she wishes to see Philadelphia become the "safest, cleanest, and greenest big city in the nation, with economic opportunity for all".
