Katherine Gilmore Richardson

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Katherine Gilmore Richardson
Member of the Philadelphia City Council At-Large
Assumed office
January 6, 2020
Personal details
Born (1984-02-14) February 14, 1984 (age 37)
Political partyDemocratic
Children3
Alma materPhiladelphia High School for Girls, West Chester University, Yale University
ProfessionPolitician

Katherine Gilmore Richardson is a Democratic politician and at-large member of the Philadelphia City Council.

Early life and education[]

Gilmore Richardson was born to a teenage mother and adopted at birth[1] by Rev. Lorraine Jenkins Gilmore and James William Gilmore.[2] She was raised in Philadelphia and attended the Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School and then the Philadelphia High School for Girls.[3] She then attended West Chester University,[1] earned a bachelor's in political science[3] and a master's in administration with a concentration in public administration, and became a member of Zeta Phi Beta.[2] She spent two years teaching as a substitute teacher at Overbrook High School[3] where she taught math and computer science.[4]

Political career[]

In 2008, Katherine Gilmore Richardson began working as a City Council staff member in the office of Blondell Reynolds Brown.[5] Reynolds Brown met Gilmore Richardson when the latter was a junior at Girls High, their shared alma mater.[6][7] Over 11 years,[8] Gilmore Richardson worked in almost every position in her office, including Chief of Staff, before deciding to run for City Council in 2019.[6][7] She was endorsed by the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee[9] and the The Philadelphia Inquirer[10] in the Democratic primary, and placed in the top 5 with 7% of the votes, advancing to the general election.[11] In the November 2019 general election, she won the City Council At-Large seat, placing 4th out of seven candidates with 14.2% of the vote.[12] She is the youngest Black woman to be elected to Philadelphia City Council.[7] She has stated, "My work is a continuation of former At-Large City Councilperson Blondell Brown’s trailblazing legacy that was passed on from former City Councilmember Augusta Clark and Dr. Ethel Clark," and has expressed interest in using social media platforms for outreach to young constituents.[13]

Philadelphia City Council[]

Committee assignments[]

As of February 2020:[14]

  • Commerce And Economic Development
  • Disabled and Persons With Special Needs
  • Environment (chair)
  • Global Opportunities And Creative Innovative Economy
  • Housing, Neighborhood Development, and the Homeless
  • Labor and Civil Service
  • Licenses and Inspections
  • Rules
  • Streets and Services

Issues[]

Employment[]

In February 2020, she introduced legislation that would give preference to graduates of career and technical education programs of the School District of Philadelphia.[15]

Police reform[]

In June 2020, Gilmore Richardson introduced a bill to require public hearings prior to adopting labor contracts, including the agreement with Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5.[16][17] This legislation was passed by City Council in September 2020.[18] In October the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5 sued the city over the legislation, and Gilmore Richardson said the measure creates "transparency and accountability" for the police.[19]

Education[]

In February 2021 at a rally with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers against the premature resumption of in-person learning, Gilmore Richardson said "As a former teacher, as a mother, and a councilmember, I'm angry. We should not have teachers in this position. Ever."[20] She called for a vaccination plan for teachers and stated, "As we near the one-year anniversary of the pandemic, getting children back into classrooms throughout the city is vitally important to their future."[21]

Voting[]

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment, Gilmore Richardson introduced a resolution to ceremonially change the nickname of the city of Philadelphia to "The City of Sisterly Love" for the duration of 2020.[22]

Arts and culture[]

In March 2021, Gilmore Richardson and Councilmember Isaiah Thomas moved to transfer $1.3 million to support artists and art organizations from the City recession relief fund.[23]

Personal life[]

She married David Rasheed Richardson on July 12, 2014, at Grace Community Church of God of Prophecy.[2] She has three children.[8]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Owens, Ernest (February 11, 2019). "Katherine Gilmore Richardson Wants to Become Philly's Youngest Black Council Member". Philadelphia Magazine.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Clifford, Patricia (September 28, 2014). "Wedding Story: Katherine Gilmore and David Richardson". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Thompson, Nigel (December 19, 2019). "Talking education and poverty in Philadelphia with Councilmember-elect Katherine Gilmore Richardson". AL DÍA News. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  4. ^ "Councilmember Katherine Gilmore RichardsonCouncilmember At-Large". Philadelphia City Council. 2019-12-11. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  5. ^ "Katherine Gilmore Richardson". Second Ward Democrats. 2019-03-16. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Clay, Denise (2019-12-16). "The Next Phase". The Philadelphia Sunday Sun. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c Thompson, Nigel (January 9, 2020). "Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson: Meet the youngest woman ever elected to an at-large seat on Philadelphia City Council". Al Día. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Terruso, Julia (April 9, 2019). "Philly could elect its first millennial to City Council, where the average age is 58". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Citing sexual harassment allegations, Philly Democrats dump sheriff from endorsed ticket". WHYY. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  10. ^ Board, The Inquirer Editorial. "Inquirer Editorial Board's recommendations for 2019 Philly primary | Endorsement Guide". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  11. ^ Terruso, Julia (May 21, 2019). "Philadelphia at-large City Council primary election results: Party-backed millennials come out on top". The Philadelphia Enquirer. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Sixty Six Wards: Ward Portal". jtannen.shinyapps.io. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  13. ^ Thibert, Keshler (November 9, 2020). "Breaking Barriers and the Evolution of Black Female Politicians in Philadelphia". Hidden City Philadelphia. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  14. ^ "Standing Committees". Philadelphia City Council. 2016-01-04. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  15. ^ Reports, Staff. "Should the city give 'extra credit' to tech school grads who apply for government jobs? | Pro/Con". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  16. ^ "Philly Council's police reform plan would ban chokeholds, increase transparency on contract talks". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. 2020-06-12. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  17. ^ Richardson, Katherine Gilmore. "Richardson: We deserve police accountability. A public hearing on police labor contracts can help us get it". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  18. ^ "Philly Bills Formally Ban Chokeholds, Require Public Input on Cops' Contract". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  19. ^ Shaw, Julie. "Philly's FOP sues the city over requirement for public hearing on police contracts". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  20. ^ Thompson, Nigel (2021-02-08). "Philadelphia teachers, political reps, show out against school reopening amid COVID-19 concerns". AL DÍA News. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  21. ^ Dale, Maryclaire (February 8, 2021). "Philadelphia plans to vaccinate teachers and reopen schools". Associated Press. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  22. ^ Taylor Romine. "Philadelphia changes nickname to honorary "City of Sisterly Love" for 100-year anniversary of 19th Amendment". CNN. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  23. ^ Editorial Board (March 18, 2021). "City Council's surprising new support for arts and culture deserves applause — and some questions - Editorial". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
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