Heard in the Hall

O'Brien backs Clarke for Council presidency

State Rep. Dennis O'Brien, who won a GOP at-large Council seat Tuesday, said Wednesday he will back Councilman Darrell Clarke for president of that body.

46 comments

O'Brien backs Clarke for Council presidency

POSTED: Wednesday, November 9, 2011, 5:54 PM

Miriam Hill

The race for president of Philadelphia's City Council just got a little narrower.

State Rep. Dennis O'Brien, who won a GOP at-large Council seat Tuesday, said Wednesday he will back Councilman Darrell Clarke for president of that body.

O'Brien said he sided with Clarke over his primary rival for the presidency, Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco, because he felt they could work together on key issues. O'Brien is a key advocate for children with disabilities, and he said Clarke had promised he, too, would work to help them.

"I just feel there are wonderful opportunities for cooperation," O'Brien said.

Both men also are connected to electricians' union leader John Dougherty, who is backing Clarke for Council president. A Dougherty-linked political action committee gave O'Brien $10,000 in the last weeks of his campaign.

Mayor Nutter supports Tasco, but doesn't get a vote. Only Council members do.

Click here for Philly.com's politics page.

46 comments

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Comments (46)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:33 PM, 06/06/2012

You can't target a man protecting family members. Back to sleep ...

— EGGHEAD.

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:15 PM, 11/10/2011

This is somewhat surprising. O’Brien was one of the strongest defenders (and maybe the only Philly pol) of our second amendment rights while Clark is one of the worst offenders.

— conservativeraver

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:38 AM, 11/11/2011

Hey ms, actually Doc was behind Kelly getting in too. Remember Doc's hack Frank Keel was involved in Kelly's stolen victory last time.

City Lumberjack, actually a greater turnout would actually help Oh. Taub has no support outside the Northeast. Oh was favored to win heavily had turnout been as expected. But clearly Johnny Doc's smear campaign was effective in fooling voters again.

Oh may still pull through but the fact that it's so close and that Doc's hack Taubenberger actually has a shot is a disgrace. It just shows how stupid this city's voters are. Philadelphians should be ashamed of themselves.

— Lindbergh79

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:44 PM, 11/14/2011

yes the drop queen tasco is done as is mr. loyalty jimmy kenney

— nelson van alden

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:01 AM, 02/26/2012

why not?every other leader in this city is black,why not council president.you can see how well the city is rundown right now,right? so the bulls**t continues!while they're at it give him a new SUV with a police car engine.dumb asses!

— lfran55

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:43 AM, 02/26/2012

Darrel Clarke is the worst thing to happen to city politics ever.

— Capsulef

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:56 PM, 04/12/2012

It's the sausage making thing...good to eat, not to watch. Darrell does what he can. Which, unfortunately, is not much. But it's Philadelphia.

— PhillyS1980

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:16 AM, 04/19/2012

We are supposed to live in a democracy but we keep electing individuals who are hand picked by both parties. What a sham.

— Keeping it real 4u

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:43 PM, 04/20/2012

Mr Clarke is Quailied, experience and Ready.
Baba Bob

— rmship

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:48 AM, 04/23/2012

Like many others, I can tell you Clarke is completely absent from representation of center city residents in his district –- except when he wants money. No response from his office, otherwise. He's never visible as a leader.

— mmds