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Thursday, January 26, 2012

Clarke's first day in the big chair

Updated:

Today was City Council’s first session in City Hall with six new members and a new president.

Council president Darrell Clarke walked up to the "big chair" –his new seat in Council. He at first seemed a bit uneasy, but quickly found his groove, tapping the wooden gavel to bring members and the public to order.

"You're in for one heck of a ride, you have no idea what you have gotten yourself into," Clarke said.

As soon as Council concluded, reporters asked the new boss how‘d it feel leading a Council session for the first time.

“I’m excited. I look forward to getting engaged in the business of running the city,” Clarke said. “I’m very interested in the fact that Council members have put some things on the agenda today that will hopefully create jobs, create revenue and create the type of synergy I’d like to see as we move ahead.”

Clarke continued on to say that Council will work with the Nutter Administration to move the city forward, citing a productive meeting members of leadership had with the Administration earlier this week.

Clarke said there are still some things he has to get used to.

“I’ve been here for 12 years in this particular chamber, but standing here in the big chair is always different and there’s actually a little more going on than I anticipated,” said Clarke who spent the later part of yesterday preparing for todays session. “So, I continue to marvel at Council president Verna’s ability to run the session and this Council in a relatively smooth fashion.”

Former Council president Anna Verna used to bring the crowd to order by banging the gavel and stating, “There is entirely too much noise in the chamber.”

One reporter asked Clarke if he would say the same.

“I actually think that phrase is patented, but I have to come up with my own.”

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About The Philly Clout Team

Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns.

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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com

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Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002 and has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. After covering the 2007 mayoral election, she moved over to the City Hall bureau where she has been reporting on the Nutter administration.

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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans.

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