Democrat Cherelle Parker is a trailblazer after defying the odds to get elected as the first female mayor of Philadelphia and the first black woman to hold the post. In a historic vote, Parker now joins the list of the few black people who have climbed the leadership ladder to win elective seats in America. It is a journey that has taken sweat, struggle, and unrelenting grit to shoulder past a long line of opponents to be crowned the first female mayor.
During her campaign trail, Parker had promised to address a wide range of issues including improving the quality of life for the residents of Philadelphia. Before her win, the Democrat had received immense support from some of the party’s stalwarts. ABC News reports that among the leaders who threw their weight behind her leadership include President Joe Biden.
Vice President Kamala Harris, another trailblazer who also shocked the world when she became the first black woman to hold the powerful post also believed Parker had the potential to become the first female mayor of Philadelphia.
How Cherelle Parker became the first black female mayor of Philadelphia
A group of supporters of Cherelle Parker waves her campaign posters. Parker became the first black woman elected as mayor of Philadelphia
When she was endorsed as the Democrat nominee to contest for the position, many believed she would be the first black woman to hold the post. Before the polls that was held on November 7, Parker had defeated a long line of experienced politician in the Democratic Party to get a nod to fight for the seat. According to NBC News, Parker had bagged 32 percent of the Democrat vote to secure her nomination in May.
Like the adage, “fortune favors the bold”, political clouds and history favored her. Philadephia’s mayoral seat is one of the executive positions the Democratic Party has enjoyed for several years. No Republican has ever held the post since 1952. Consequently, history appeared kind to Parker after she was selected as the Democrat candidate for the seat.
Several media outlets had projected her win and believed she was likely to become the first female mayor of Philadelphia. She was facing off against Republican David Oh. In the final tally, the trailblazer was declared winner with about 74 percent of the vote. Her win is a major boost for black women and women in general who have been hoping to scale up the leadership ladder.
Who is Cherelle Parker?
Democrat Cherelle Parker waves to her supporters during her campaigns for Philadelphia mayor
Who is this trailblazer who has trounced tough opponents to become the first female mayor of Philadelphia? That is the question that could be ringing in the minds of some people. Well, Parker is a former Philadelphia City Council member from the African-American community. She is the daughter of a single teenage mother who passed on when Parker was still young.
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Despite her tough upbringing, she has built a profile as the woman of firsts. In her family, she was the first member of the family to join college. In her public life, she also left tongues wagging in 2005 when she became the youngest black woman elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to represent northwest Philadelphia.