David A. Clarke

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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, is named in honor of Mr. Clarke.

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

The David A. Clarke School of Law was named after 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]

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.

Political career

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

Awards

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

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  2. 2.0 2.1 David A. Clarke Finding Aid, Special Collections Research Center, Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library, The George Washington University
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External links

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Council of the District of Columbia
First Ward 1 Member, Council of the District of Columbia
1975–1983
Succeeded by
Frank Smith
Preceded by Chairman, Council of the District of Columbia
1983–1991
Succeeded by
John A. Wilson
Preceded by Chairman, Council of the District of Columbia
1993–1997
Succeeded by
Linda W. Cropp