Clarke has commitments from Council members Jannie L. Blackwell, Curtis Jones, Bill Green, William K. Greenlee and Wilson Goode. He also has the votes of four incoming freshmen Council members: Bobby Henon, Kenyatta Johnson, Mark Squilla, and Republican at-large Dennis O'Brien. Clarke would be the 10th vote.
Clarke, who represents the Fifth District, covering parts of Center City, Fairmount, and North Philadelphia, was reelected last week to his fourth term in office. He was a protege of former Mayor John F. Street, who also represented the Fifth District and was Council president under Mayor Ed Rendell.
Clarke rose to oversee legislative, housing, and economic affairs in Street's Council office.
Mayor Nutter, who saw several of his top first-term initiatives rebuffed by Council, had been backing Tasco, with Kenney as an alternative candidate. Nutter and Street have a famously contentious relationship, which may have accounted for the mayor's reluctance to see a former Street aide running Council.
The bond between mayor and Council president is crucial. They can frustrate each other's efforts or work in concert to get major legislation and reform accomplished. Rendell and Street had a famously productive rapport.
Green said he thought Nutter and Clarke could build a good partnership.
"I'm convinced that Darrell will be able to drive things so the mayor can be successful," he said.
Green also said he thought Clarke would "want to unite Council, not divide it."
"I honestly believe that Darrell is going to be extremely fair to everyone after this," Green said.
Clarke and Tasco did not return messages left Sunday night with their aides. Kenney also did not return a call.
