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Clarence H. Burns | |
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| 46thMayor of Baltimore | |
| In office January 26, 1987 – December 8, 1987 | |
| Preceded by | William Donald Schaefer |
| Succeeded by | Kurt Schmoke |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Clarence Henry Burns (1918-09-13)September 13, 1918 |
| Died | January 12, 2003(2003-01-12) (aged 84) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Edith Phillips |
| Alma mater | Larry London Music School |
Clarence Henry "Du" Burns (September 13, 1918 – January 12, 2003) was aDemocratic politician and the firstAfrican American mayor ofBaltimore, Maryland in 1987.[1]
Burns was born in Baltimore on September 13, 1918. One of his first jobs was locker room attendant at Dunbar High School, one of the others being picking up newspapers. He got the nickname "Du" for what he would "do" for his community.[2]
Du Burns was first elected to theBaltimore City Council in 1971. He was later elected City Council President in 1983, defeatingMary Pat Clarke in the election.[3] In January 1987, the then-MayorWilliam Donald Schaefer resigned after being electedGovernor of Maryland. As City Council president, Burns was elevated to mayor, becoming the first black mayor in the city's history.
Inthe 1987 city elections, Burns ran for a full term but was defeated in the Democratic primary byKurt Schmoke. He ran againin 1991, once more falling second to Schmoke for the primary.[4]
In 1991,a new arena on the waterfront in the neighborhood ofCanton was named in Burns's honor.[5] In 2014, the field received a renovation deal of 20 years, worth up to $1.5 million.[6]
Burns was Catholic, an active member ofHistoric St. Francis Xavier Church.[7]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Mayor of Baltimore 1987 | Succeeded by |
