Everyone keeps saying the Philadelphia City Council we have today is so new (with so many new members or newer members) that there’s a little scuttlebutt that newer members are still having to learn the ropes. That’s the beauty of our democracy. If you meet all the requirements to run for a political office, you campaign hard, and you win, then you are in. Doesn’t matter if you have to learn a few new things to make your time in the office productive. This is the way things go. Nothing stays the same forever. We are living through some exciting times for Philadelphia, and there’s new hope and new energy in the air. Kenyatta Johnson has become the new President of City Council, and he didn’t just arrive yesterday, so we dare to believe the City Council is in good hands.
On Inauguration day, during his inaugural address, Council President Johnson stated, “I am humbled and honored that members of City Council are entrusting in me the opportunity to lead City Council during a very, very exciting time in Philadelphia’s history,” Johnson said. “This new Council is one of the most racially and ethnically diverse and youngest Councils in recent memory. All of us on City Council are excited to work with Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker to move our city forward. As a member of City Council since 2012, I have focused my time on improving education, affordable housing, business development, public safety, job training, and access to employment for my Second Council District constituents. I will still work hard for my Second District residents, but as a citywide leader, I will use all of my skills and energy to improve life for all Philadelphians as Council President.”
City Council President is the top leadership position in Council and is considered the second most powerful person in the City of Philadelphia government behind the Mayor. The City Council President oversees the internal operations of the body, designating members to various Council committees and determining whether a bill that is introduced will have a public hearing.
Council also selected At-Large Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson to serve as Majority Leader, At-Large Councilmember Isaiah Thomas as Majority Whip, and Eighth District Councilmember Cindy Bass will remain as Deputy Whip.
The new Minority Leader is At-Large Councilmember Kendra Brooks, and the Minority Whip is At-Large Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke, who are both of the Working Families Party. It is the first time since the latest version of the Home Rule Charter went into effect in 1951 that the Minority Leader and Minority Whip are not Republicans.
Johnson replaces now-retired Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke, who served as the Fifth District Councilmember for 24 years and the last 12 years as Council President. At 50 years old, Johnson is one of the youngest City Council Presidents in Philadelphia history.
He will be only the ninth City Council President since 1951 and is the second Council President to represent the Second Council District. Anna Verna, the only woman to serve as Council President, was the first.
A man with a mission to serve, Council President Johnson represents the Second Council District, which represents more than 160,000 residents in the neighborhoods covering parts of Center City, South, and Southwest Philadelphia and also includes the Sports Stadium area, Philadelphia International Airport, and the Navy Yard.
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