David A. Clarke

David A. Clarke was a civil rights worker, lawyer, and former Chair of the Washington, D.C. City Council. The District of Columbia's public interest law school, David A. Clarke School of Law, was renamed in his honor.

David Allen "Dave" Clarke (October 13, 1943 – March 28, 1997)^[1] was a civil rights worker, lawyer, and Democratic politician in Washington, D.C. Elected as one of the original members of the Council of the District of Columbia when D.C. gained home rule in 1974, Clarke served as its chairman from 1983 to 1991, and again from the death of John A. Wilson in 1993 until his own death in 1997.

The David A. Clarke School of Law was renamed for Clarke in 1998.

Early life and education

Clarke was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in its Shaw and Skyland neighborhoods, attending D.C. public schools Thompson Elementary, Jefferson High, and Western High School. He continued his education in D.C., obtaining a B.A. in religion from George Washington University in 1965^[2] and a J.D. from the Howard University School of Law.^[3]

Career

Before his service on Council, he was counsel and Director of the Washington Bureau of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and was legal assistant to the N.A.A.C.P Legal Defense Fund. He also served as a program evaluator for the U.S. Senate Committee on Nutrition. In 1974, David Clark was elected as the Ward One Representative on the Council of the District of Columbia- first Council elected by District of Columbia voters. During his eight years as the representative of Ward One, he was chairperson of the Judiciary Committee, a member of the Council’s Housing and Finance committee, and chairperson of the Public Safety Committee of the Metropolitan Council of Governments, where he was a proponent of gun control.^[4] He and his wife, a city schoolteacher, had one son.

While on the council, he was known for an ability to transcend race, a legacy from his experience as an activist and important in a racially divided district.^[5] His aggressive style at times made consensus building difficult.^[5]

Clarke died of a central nervous system lymphoma, a form of brain cancer.^[5]

Timeline

• November 5, 1974 — elected Ward 1 council member^[6]
• November 7, 1978 — reelected Ward 1 council member^[6]
• November 2, 1982 — elected council chairman^[6]
• November 4, 1986 — reelected council chairman^[6]
• September 11, 1990 — ran for mayor and was defeated in primary by Sharon Pratt Dixon^[6]
• September 14, 1993 — elected council chairman in special election after death of John A. Wilson^[6] with 47 percent, beating Charlene Drew Jarvis (29 percent), Linda Cropp (16 percent), and Marie Drissel (6 percent)^[7]
• November 8, 1994 — reelected council chairman^[6]
• December 30, 1996 — entered Georgetown University Hospital; council chairman pro tempore Charlene Drew Jarvis took over as acting chairman^[8]
• March 27, 1997 — died in office^[6]

Awards and legacy

Clarke received numerous awards for his community service initiatives including Outstanding Alumnus Award, Greater Washington Howard University Law School Alumni Association, Achievement Award, Elks Department of Civil Liberties League # 194, Human Rights Award, Ancient Independent Order of Moses, and the Washington Inner City Self-Help, Outstanding Service to Community Award. The University of the District of Columbia's Law School also bears his name: "The UDC David A. Clarke School of Law."^[2]

References

1. "Moments from life of activist leader". The Washington Times. 1997-03-31. Retrieved 2008-07-12.
2. David A. Clarke Finding Aid, Special Collections Research Center, Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library, The George Washington University
3. "David A. Clarke (D) [from voter guide]". The Washington Post. 1995-01-11. Retrieved 2008-07-17. Check date values in: |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
5. Powell, Michael (March 29, 1997). "D.C. Council Chairman David A. Clarke Dies". Washington Post. Washington D.C.
6. District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. "Historical Elected Officials". Archived from the original on 2008-07-09. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
7. Sanchez, Rene (1993-09-15). "Clarke Elected Council Chairman; Jarvis, Cropp Beaten Soundly in Seven of Eight D.C. Wards". The Washington Post. p. A01. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
8. Harris, Hamil R. (2007-02-02). "With Jarvis in Driver's Seat, D.C. Council Roars to Life". p. B01. Retrieved 2008-07-22.

External links

• "David Clarke, 53; Led City Council in Washington". The New York Times. 1997-03-29. Retrieved 2008-07-12.
• "About David A. Clarke". UDC David A. Clarke School of Law. Archived from the original on 2008-05-04. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
• Barras, Jonetta Rose (1995-09-29). "The Strange World of David Clarke". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 2008-07-28.