Thaddeus Kirkland

{{Infobox officeholder

| image = Thaddeus Kirkland (51721603317).jpg

| name = Thaddeus Kirkland

| office1 = Mayor of Chester, Pennsylvania

| term_start1 = January 4, 2016

| term_end1 = January 3, 2023

| predecessor1 = John Linder

| successor1 = Stefan Roots

| state_house2 = Pennsylvania

| district2 = 159th

| term_start2 = {{start date|1993|01|05}}

| term_end2 = {{end date|2016|11|30}}

| predecessor2 = Robert C. Wright

| successor2 = Brian Joseph Kirkland

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|1|12}}

| birth_place = Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic

| alma_mater =

| occupation = Pastor of Community Baptist Church, Chester, Pennsylvania

| spouse = Susie

| children =

| residence =

| website =

}}

Thaddeus Kirkland (born January 12, 1955) is an American politician who served as the Democratic Mayor of Chester, Pennsylvania from 2016 to 2024. In May 2023, he lost the Democratic mayoral primary to Stefan Roots. He served as a Democratic member of the 159th district from 1993 to 2016.{{Cite web |title=The Voter's Self Defense System |url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/9167/thaddeus-kirkland}}

Early life and education

Born in Chester, Kirkland graduated from Chester High School in 1973 and Cheyney University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Kirkland is a graduate of the Widener University Leadership Academy and is a member of Wine Psi Phi and Omega Psi Phi fraternities.{{Cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?id=126|title=Representative Thaddeus Kirkland|last=Center|first=Legislativate Data Processing|website=The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.|access-date=2016-11-09}}{{cite web |title=Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland |url=http://www.chestercity.com/city-officials/city-council/mayor-thaddeus-kirkland-director-of-public-affairs/ |website=www.chestercity.com |accessdate=13 June 2018}}

Kirkland was a community service coordinator at Crozer Chester Medical Center, where he directed outreach and educational programs for teenagers.

Political career

= Pennsylvania House of Representatives =

In 1993, Kirkland was elected as a Democratic member to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives 159th district. He was reelected 10 times, serving 11 consecutive 2-year terms.{{cite web |title=Thaddeus Kirkland |url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/BiosHistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=126&body=H |website=www.legis.state.pa.us |accessdate=13 June 2018}}

Kirkland served as the Democratic Chairman of the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee and as a member of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus. In 2002, he was named to the PoliticsPA list of Best Dressed Legislators.{{cite web| title =Sy Snyder's Best Dressed Legislators| work =PoliticsPA| publisher =The Publius Group| year =2002| url =http://www.politicspa.com/FEATURES/best_dressed.htm| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20020803093934/http://www.politicspa.com/FEATURES/best_dressed.htm| archivedate =2002-08-03| url-status =dead}}

He was not a candidate for reelection in 2016 and was succeeded by his nephew, Brian Joseph Kirkland.{{cite web|title=Rep. Brian Joseph Kirkland|url=http://www.pahouse.com/BKirkland/About/Biography|website=www.pahouse.com|accessdate=13 May 2018}}

==Sponsored legislation==

In the 2015-2016 session, Kirkland sponsored several bills, including: HB 418 concerning human-shaped targets at shooting ranges,{{Cite web|last=Center|first=Legislativate Data Processing|title=Bill Information - House Bill 418; Regular Session 2015-2016|url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2015&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0418|access-date=2016-11-09|website=The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.}} HB 419 concerning crimes that could not be expunged from a criminal record,{{Cite web|last=Center|first=Legislativate Data Processing|title=Bill Information - House Bill 419; Regular Session 2015-2016|url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2015&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0419|access-date=2016-11-09|website=The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.}} and HB 420 concerning body cameras to be worn by police officers.{{Cite web|last=Center|first=Legislativate Data Processing|title=Bill Information - House Bill 420; Regular Session 2015-2016|url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2015&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0420|access-date=2016-11-09|website=The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.}} None of these bills were voted on. Kirkland has been involved in areas of prayer in school, video surveillance, technical training, and Head Start programs.{{Cite web|title=Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland, Director of Public Affairs|url=http://www.chestercity.com/mayor-thaddeus-kirkland-director-of-public-affairs/|access-date=2016-11-09|website=www.chestercity.com}}

==Chester-Upland School District controversies==

In June 2011, Kirkland announced that if $20 million worth of cuts were not restored to the Chester Upland School District, he planned to file a federal lawsuit against Pennsylvania to close the three public high schools in Chester.[http://delcotimes.com/articles/2011/06/14/news/doc4df6bd43d8030000245002.txt] Delaware County Daily Times, "State Rep Threatens Suit Over Budget Cuts", June 14, 2011 However, the school board did not support Kirkland's plan, calling a press conference where they stated that they were "fully capable of speaking for" themselves and "totally disagree" with what Kirkland wanted to do.[http://delcotimes.com/articles/2011/06/15/news/doc4df80bfa7659f303357872.txt] Delaware County Daily Times, "C.U. Board Dismayed by Kirkland Suit Threat", June 15, 2011 In August 2017, Kirkland welcomed the opening of the Chester Charter School for the Arts, a $25 million public, non-profit charter school on an 11-acre campus on Highland Avenue with kindergarten through 11th grade classes with a focus on music, dance, theater and visual arts.{{cite web|last1=Rodgers|first1=Loretta|title=Chester Charter School for Arts shows off new home|url=http://www.delcotimes.com/article/DC/20170825/NEWS/170829767|accessdate=8 April 2018|website=www.delcotimes.com|date=14 June 2000}}

= Mayor of Chester =

In the 2015 Democratic mayoral primary, Kirkland defeated incumbent Mayor John Linder 1,818 to 721{{Cite web|url=http://election.co.delaware.pa.us/eb/May_2015/49M.html|title=2015 Un-Official Municipal Primary Results}} and then former mayor, Republican Wendell Butler Jr., in the election. Just before taking office on January 4, 2016, he promised to reduce violence in the city by improving the schools and police force and using body cameras.{{Cite news|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20160105_Chester_mayor_pledges_to_combat_violence.html|title=Chester mayor pledges to combat violence|newspaper=Philly.com|access-date=2016-12-09}}{{cite web |url=http://www.delcotimes.com/general-news/20160104/kirkland-promises-a-fresh-start-in-chester |title=Kirkland promises a fresh start in Chester |website=www.delcotimes.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112115624/http://www.delcotimes.com/general-news/20160104/kirkland-promises-a-fresh-start-in-chester |archive-date=2016-01-12}}

Kirkland decided to stay on as the representative of Chester, as well as serving as mayor. He is the first representative who has resigned and then rescinded his resignation. The House Democratic spokesman stated that because of this action, he will not be taking a mayoral salary until he departs from the House, and instead will take his legislative pay and continue to count toward his pension credits.{{Cite news|url=http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/01/state_lawmaker_sworn_in_as_may.html|title=State lawmaker sworn in as mayor but holds on to legislative post|newspaper=PennLive.com|access-date=2016-11-11}}

In May 2023, he was defeated in the Democratic mayoral primary by Stefan Roots.{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Anthony R. |title=Bankrupt Chester’s beleaguered mayor is overwhelmingly defeated |url=https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/chester-mayoral-primary-results-stefan-roots-bankruptcy-20230517.html |access-date=6 June 2023 |publisher=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=May 17, 2023}}

Personal life

Kirkland is the pastor of the Community Baptist Church in Chester, Pennsylvania{{cite web|title=Our Pastor|url=http://www.cbcchester.org/our-pastor/|website=www.cbcchester.org|accessdate=13 May 2018}} and Vice President of the West End Ministerial Fellowship of Chester and Vicinity. He is a former Board of Trustee member of Lincoln University.{{Cite web|url=http://www.chestercity.com/mayor-thaddeus-kirkland-director-of-public-affairs/|title=Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland, Director of Public Affairs|website=www.chestercity.com|access-date=2016-11-09}}

Kirkland is married to Susie and together they have five daughters. Kirkland is the younger brother of former professional basketball player Wilbur Kirkland.{{cite web | url=http://articles.philly.com/2000-08-01/news/25594586_1_76ers-team-west-chester| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920193717/http://articles.philly.com/2000-08-01/news/25594586_1_76ers-team-west-chester| url-status=dead| archive-date=September 20, 2015| title=His Star Shone A World Away From 76ers Glenmoore's Wilbur Kirkland, 53, Is A Former European Basketball Legend Who Does Not Regret Not Playing Locally.| publisher=Philly.com | work=Philadelphia Inquirer| last=Hardy| first=Dan |date=August 1, 2000 | accessdate=March 21, 2016}}

References

External links

[http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?id=126 Pennsylvania House of Representatives - Thaddeus Kirkland (Democrat)] official PA House website
[http://www.pahouse.com/kirkland/ Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus - Thaddeus Kirkland] official Party website