Cindy Bass to back Darrell Clarke for City Council President

Eighth District City Councilwoman-elect Cindy Bass is backing Councilman Darrell Clarke for Council president. Bass spokesman Joseph Corrigan said Tuesday that Bass will vote for the Fifth District representative come January. She will reportedly join at least 10 of her new colleagues, a total that would secure the presidency for Clarke. Corrigan would not comment on the specifics behind the decision, but said it was, “in the best interest of the citizens of Philadelphia to unite around one person and end the political bickering before January when the real work begins.”

It was speculated that Bass would support Ninth District Councilwoman Marian Tasco’s bid for Council’s top job. It’s unclear at this point whether Tasco, recently elected to a seventh term in office, is still seeking the presidency. ” We’re working on that. We’re trying to round up nine votes and we’ll see soon how that works out , ” said Tasco outside of Bass’ victory party last Tuesday.

CBS Philly 3 reports that a deal with Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell may have sealed the deal. Blackwell, who is now backing Clarke’s bid, says she will run for Majority Leader of Council. Bass will be sworn into office Jan. 2. She will replace outgoing incumbent Donna Reed Miler, who did not seek re-election after four terms in office.