Cherelle Parker biography: 13 things about Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s 100th mayor

Cherelle Lesley Parker is an American politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Born in Mount Airy, Philadelphia, she attended Lincoln University in Chester County, Pennsylvania and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Parker is a Democrat. Here are 13 more things about her:

1. In 1983, her mother died.
2. In 1990, she won an oratorical contest in Philadelphia and was introduced to then Philadelphia City Council member Marian B. Tasco, who then hired her as an intern.
3. In 1994, she graduated from Lincoln University and briefly worked in Pleasantville, New Jersey, USA as a high school English teacher.
4. In 1995, she became an employee of Tasco’s office.
5. From September 13, 2005 to December 31, 2015, she was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 200th district.
6. In 2010, she and Ben Mullins got married.
7. In 2011, she was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and driving the wrong way on a one-way street and was convicted.
8. In 2015, she unsuccessfully appealed her 2011 conviction.
9. From January 4, 2016 to September 2022, she was a member of the Philadelphia City Council member from the ninth district.
10. In January 2020, she defeated Bobby Henon to become majority leader for Democrats on the Philadelphia City Council.
11. In February 2021, she was elected to the chair of the board for the Delaware River Port Authority.
12. On September 7, 2022, she resigned from the Philadelphia City Council and announced her candidacy for mayor of Philadelphia.
13. She was 51 years old when she was elected the 100th mayor of Philadelphia on November 7, 2023. She will assume office on January 4, 2024.