Clarence Maurice Mitchell IV (born May 16, 1962)[1] is an American radio host and politician who currently cohosts The C4 And Bryan Nehman Show on Baltimore radio station WBAL. Mitchell served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1995 to 1999 and Maryland Senate from 1999 to 2003 as a member of the Democratic Party.
Clarence Mitchell IV | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Maryland Senate from the 44th district | |
| In office January 1999 – January 2003 | |
| Preceded by | John D. Jefferies |
| Succeeded by | Verna L. Jones |
| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 44th district | |
| In office January 1995 – January 1999 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Clarence Maurice Mitchell IV May 16, 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, US |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Relations | Lillie Mae Carroll Jackson (great-grandmother) Clarence Mitchell Jr. (grandfather) Parren Mitchell (uncle) Keiffer Mitchell Jr. (cousin) |
| Parents |
|
| Residence(s) | Baltimore, Maryland |
Early life
editMitchell was born into Maryland's Mitchell political family, the son of Clarence Mitchell III[2][3] and grandson of Clarence Mitchell, Jr.[3] Mitchell was educated at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and Morgan State University.[1][2] In 1984, Mitchell was on the advance staff of Walter Mondale's presidential campaign.[1]
In 1990, Mitchell got a license to work as a bail bondsman, which he renewed in June 1997. He reportedly oversaw several family bond and insurance companies. His connections to the bail-bond business led to criticisms of conflict of interest in 1999 during his Senate term, at which time he said he did no work outside of his elected office.[4]
Political career
editMitchell was a State Senator from Maryland's 44th legislative district from January 1999 to January 2003, and prior to that a State Delegate from the same district from January 1995 to January 1999.[1] Mitchell held the same Senate seat once held by his father, Clarence M. Mitchell III, and uncle Michael B. Mitchell.[5]
Defeated for reelection to the Senate in the 2002 Democratic primary, Mitchell described his loss as party establishment punishment for his successful opposition to Gov. Parris Glendening's redistricting plan that ended with the Maryland Court of Appeals finding the map unconstitutional, but reporting also mentioned Mitchell's support for successful Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Ehrlich and an ethics reprimand from the General Assembly.[6] Mitchell said he would leave the Democratic Party in December 2001 because the governor's legislative redistricting map, by merging the 47th district into his 44th, hurt minority representation.[7] Mitchell was publicly reprimanded in February 2002 for accepting a $10,000 loan as a State Delegate in 1997 from businessmen (including two city bail bondsmen) with issues before the legislature, a loan on which no payments had been made five years later.[8] Mitchell received a letter from the State Ethics Commission of Maryland stating that he did not violate any ethics rules.[citation needed] Mitchell also received a letter, very rarely issued, by the State Prosecutor Stephen Montanarelli stating that he did not violate any state laws.[citation needed] Mitchell was also fined $350 in 2001 for failing to submit required annual financial disclosure forms in a timely manner.[8]
Mitchell endorsed Republican Bob Ehrlich for governor in May 2002.[9] After Ehrlich won the general election, Mitchell was hired as the director of the newly created Office of Urban Development in the Department of Housing and Community Development.[10] Two weeks later Mitchell was forced to resign just before the nominee for secretary of that department faced a Senate confirmation hearing.[11]
Radio career
editIn 1995, Mitchell participated in a radio show, "The Mitchells' Maryland Magazine", hosted by his father Clarence M. Mitchell III and his sister Lisa Mitchell on WOLB-AM.[12] Starting in 2007, Mitchell hosted The C4 Show, a talk show on WBAL (AM) in Baltimore.[1] On January 2, 2012, following the death of fellow radio host Ron Smith, Mitchell's program was expanded to four hours, running 10 AM to 2 PM, Monday-Friday, while dropping Saturdays.[13] At some point the show was shortened, as on July 8, 2013, it was reported that it would be expanded from two hours to three hours, 9 AM to noon.[14] In July 2020, Mitchell was paired with Bryan Nehman, morning news host for the previous eight years, as Mornings With C4 And Bryan Nehman, weekdays from 5:30-10 AM.[15]
Election results
edit1994
edit1994 House of Delegates Primary Election Results, District 44[16] Candidate Votes Party Percentage Ruby Boulware 569 Democratic 3% Vickie Cumberland 464 Democratic 2% Elijah Cummings 4,464 Democratic 23% (Winner) John E. Hannay 1,190 Democratic 6% John D. Jefferies 2,984 Democratic 16% Verna L. Jones 2,216 Democratic 12% Ruth M. Kirk 3,072 Democratic 16% (Winner) Clarence M. Mitchell IV 3,212 Democratic 17% (Winner) Daymon Royster 422 Democratic 2% Michael Anthony Williams 562 Democratic 3%
1994 House of Delegates General Election Results, District 44[17] Candidate Votes Party Percentage Elijah Cummings 9,823 Democratic 34% (Winner) Ruth M. Kirk 9,358 Democratic 32% (Winner) Clarence M. Mitchell IV 9,838 Democratic 34% (Winner)
1998
edit1998 State Senate Primary Election Results, District 44[18] Candidate Votes Party Percentage John D. Jefferies 2,796 Democratic 47% Clarence M. Mitchell IV 3,101 Democratic 53% (Winner)
1998 State Senate General Election Results, District 44[19] Candidate Votes Party Percentage Clarence M. Mitchell IV 11,304 Democratic 100% (Winner)
2002
edit2002 State Senate Primary Election Results, District 44[20] Candidate Votes Party Percentage Verna L. Jones 7,384 Democratic 68.5% (Winner) Clarence M. Mitchell IV 3,389 Democratic 31.5%
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Clarence M. Mitchell IV, Maryland State Senator". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. December 1, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
- ^ a b "The C4 Show | Clarence Mitchell". WBAL Radio 1090 AM. WBAL (AM). Archived from the original on June 27, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ a b "Mitchell remembered as pioneer, fighter for justice". The Baltimore Sun. October 21, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ^ Mosk, Matthew (March 27, 1999). "Senator draws ire with vote". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ^ Siegel, Eric (September 16, 1998). "Blount repels Boston challenge Bitterly fought race in Baltimore featured battle in courtroom". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ^ Siegel, Eric (September 11, 2002). "Incumbent Mitchell loses Senate seat". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ^ Penn, Ivan (December 28, 2001). "Mitchell says he plans to leave party". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ^ a b Penn, Ivan (February 27, 2002). "Mitchell given reprimand over ethics violation". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ^ Dresser, Michael (May 4, 2002). "Mitchell backs GOP's Ehrlich". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ^ Craig, Tim (February 12, 2003). "Ehrlich hires Mitchell IV for $92,000-a-year post". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ^ Desmon, Stephanie; Craig, Tim; Penn, Ivan (February 25, 2003). "Mitchell IV forced to quit $92,000-a-year Md. housing job Resignation comes hours before secretary's hearing". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ^ McKerrow, Steve (May 6, 1995). "Father, daughter Mitchell take up black issues". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ^ Zurawik, David (December 30, 2011). "WBAL radio's new lineup: More news, no replacement for Ron Smith". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ^ Zurawik, David (July 8, 2013). "Hearst's 98 Rock and WBAL shift lineups, time periods today". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ^ "WBAL Radio Launches Mornings With C4 And Bryan Nehman". WBAL (AM). July 18, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
- ^ "1994 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results". The State Board of Elections. State Board of Elections. February 6, 2001. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ^ "1994 Gubernatorial General Election Results". The State Board of Elections. State Board of Elections. February 6, 2001. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ^ "1998 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results". The State Board of Elections. State Board of Elections. October 24, 2000. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ^ "1998 Gubernatorial General Election Results". The State Board of Elections. State Board of Elections. October 24, 2000. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ^ "2002 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results". The State Board of Elections. State Board of Elections. March 19, 2003. Retrieved August 15, 2015.