Cherelle Parker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cherelle Parker
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| 100th Mayor of Philadelphia | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Jim Kenney |
| Member of the Philadelphia City Council from the 9th district |
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| In office January 4, 2016 – September 7, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Marian B. Tasco |
| Succeeded by | Anthony Phillips |
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 200th district |
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| In office September 13, 2005 – December 31, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | LeAnna Washington |
| Succeeded by | Tonyelle Cook-Artis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 9, 1972 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Ben Mullins
(m. 2010, divorced) |
| Children | 1 |
| Residences | Mount Airy, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Education | Lincoln University (BS) University of Pennsylvania (MPA) |
Cherelle Lesley Parker (born September 9, 1972) is an American politician who became the 100th mayor of Philadelphia in 2024. She is a member of the Democratic Party and made history as the first woman to be elected mayor of the city.
Before becoming mayor, Parker served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for ten years. She represented the 200th district in Northwest Philadelphia. Later, she was elected to the Philadelphia City Council in 2015, where she represented the ninth district and became the majority leader in 2020.
In 2022, Parker decided to run for mayor. She won the Democratic Party's primary election in May 2023. She then won the main election in November against the Republican candidate, David Oh.
Contents
Early Life and Schooling
Cherelle Parker was born in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia. Her mother was a teenager and died when Cherelle was only 11. After that, her grandparents raised her. Her grandfather was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, and her grandmother was a domestic worker.
When Parker was a senior at Parkway High School in 1990, she won a city-wide public speaking contest. As a prize, she received money and a trip to Senegal and Morocco. Winning the contest also led to an important meeting with Marian B. Tasco, who was a member of the Philadelphia City Council at the time. Tasco was so impressed that she hired Parker as an intern in her office.
Parker attended Lincoln University and graduated in 1994.
Start of Her Career
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After college, Parker worked for a short time as a high school English teacher. In 1995, she returned to work for City Council member Marian B. Tasco. She stayed in Tasco's office for ten years, learning a lot about how city government works.
In 2005, a seat opened up in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Parker ran for the position and won, becoming the youngest Black woman ever elected to the state's legislature. She served there for ten years. During her time as a state representative, she helped pass new laws, including one that allowed special evidence in certain court cases.
When Marian B. Tasco retired from the Philadelphia City Council in 2015, she encouraged Parker to run for her seat. Parker won the election. As a council member, she created the "Philly First Home" program. This program helps people who are buying their first house with the costs.
In 2020, Parker was chosen as the majority leader for the Democrats on the city council. The next year, she became the chair of the board for the Delaware River Port Authority, an agency that manages bridges and transportation between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Running for Mayor of Philadelphia
On September 7, 2022, Parker announced she was running for Mayor of Philadelphia.
The Primary Election
In the Democratic primary, Parker presented herself as a moderate candidate. Her main focus was on making the city safer. She promised to hire 300 new police officers to help protect communities.
During her campaign, she changed her mind on a police tactic known as "stop and frisk" (also called a Terry stop). While on the City Council, she had opposed it. But while running for mayor, she said it was a necessary tool for police to keep people safe.
Parker was supported by many labor unions and important political figures in the city. On May 16, 2023, she won the Democratic primary election with strong support from Black and low-income neighborhoods.
The General Election
In the final election, Parker faced Republican candidate David Oh. For about a month after the primary, she took a break from campaigning to recover from a dental procedure.
Parker chose not to debate Oh at first, but later agreed to one debate on a radio show. She also participated in an event at the Please Touch Museum, where children asked her and Oh questions about their plans for Philadelphia. Parker said she wanted Philadelphia to be the "safest, cleanest, and greenest big city in the nation, with economic opportunity for all."
In November 2023, Parker won the election with 75% of the vote, officially becoming the next mayor of Philadelphia.
Mayor of Philadelphia
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Cherelle Parker officially became mayor on January 1, 2024. She was sworn into office on January 2. This was done to avoid a conflict with the Mummers Parade, a famous New Year's Day event in the city.
One of her first actions was to create a new media policy. It required all public statements from city departments to be approved by her office. Some people worried this would slow down communication, especially from libraries. After listening to these concerns, the policy was reversed. Parker also required all city employees to return to working in person at their offices by July 2024.
City Budget and Plans
In March 2024, Parker presented her first city budget. A budget is a plan for how the city will spend its money. Her plan included more funding for the police and for programs to clean up the city. It also increased the amount of property tax money given to the School District of Philadelphia.
Focus on Public Safety
On her 100th day as mayor, Parker visited the Kensington neighborhood to announce her public safety plan. A month later, on May 8, she ordered city workers to clear a large homeless encampment in the area. The city reported that it helped 59 people from the encampment find shelter or treatment. Another cleanup took place in September.
Proposed Arena for the 76ers
In September 2024, Parker announced her support for a new basketball arena for the Philadelphia 76ers to be built in the Market East area. The project was called 76 Place at Market East. However, the owners of the 76ers later made a deal to build a different arena in South Philadelphia instead.
2025 City Workers' Strike
On July 1, 2025, about 10,000 city workers went on strike. The workers, who are part of a union, demanded better pay and benefits. The strike included sanitation workers, which meant that trash collection was stopped for a time. Large piles of garbage began to appear around the city, which some residents nicknamed "Parker Piles."
Political Ideas
Education
Parker has supported the idea of year-round schooling. She argued that the traditional school calendar is outdated. She proposed a test program for year-round schools and suggested giving more tax money to schools to pay for things like air conditioning in the summer.
Public Safety
Parker's approach to crime has been described as "tough on crime." She has promised to hire more police officers to increase safety in the city. She also supports the use of "stop-and-frisk" by police as a way to prevent crime.
Personal Life
In 2010, Parker married Ben Mullins. They have one son, Langston, who is named after the famous poet Langston Hughes. The family lives in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia.
See also
- List of members of Philadelphia City Council since 1952
