Clarence Mitchell III
Clarence Mitchell III | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Maryland Senate from the 39th district | |
| In office 1967–1986 | |
| Succeeded by | Michael B. Mitchell |
| Maryland House of Delegates | |
| In office 1963–1967 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Clarence Maurice Mitchell III December 14, 1939 St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | October 11, 2012 (aged 72) Baltimore, Maryland |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Relations | Clarence Mitchell Jr. (father), Juanita Jackson Mitchell (mother), Lillie Mae Carroll Jackson (grandmother), Parren Mitchell (uncle), Clarence Mitchell IV (son), Keiffer Mitchell Jr. (nephew) |
| Residence(s) | Baltimore, Maryland |
Clarence Maurice Mitchell III (December 14, 1939 – October 11, 2012) was an American politician from Baltimore, Maryland who served in the Maryland Senate and the Maryland House of Delegates.[1]
Background
Mitchell was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, December 14, 1939. The son of Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. and Juanita Jackson Mitchell, he attended Baltimore City public schools and then Gonzaga High School in Washington, D.C.. After high school, Mitchell attended the University of Maryland and Morgan State University.[2] He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.[3]
Career
Mitchell first served in the Maryland House of Delegates, Legislative District 4 (Baltimore City) from 1963 to 1967; he was elected at 22 and sworn in at 23 years old. After 4 years in the House, he ran for the Maryland Senate and won. During the next 20 years he represented Senate, Legislative Districts 10, 38 & 39, all in Baltimore City. 1967-86. During that time he was the Deputy majority leader, 1975–78, Majority whip, 1979, member of the Judicial Proceedings Committee, Co-chair of the Joint Committee on Federal Relations and Chairman of the Executive Nominations Committee.
On the national level, Mitchell was also elected to serve as President of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, from 1979 to 1981.
Controversy
Mitchell pleaded no contest in 1964 to charges of failing to file income taxes. In 1983 he was charged with carrying a weapon onto an airplane.[4]
A year after leaving the Senate, Mitchell was convicted of attempting to obstruct a grand jury, committing wire fraud and attempting to tamper with a federal investigation. He was sentenced to 54 months in prison but was released after having served 18 months.[5]
Death
Mitchell died October 11, 2012, in Randallstown, Maryland.
References
- ^ "Clarence M. Mitchell III, former Md. state senator, dies". Baltimore Business Journal. October 11, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
- ^ "Clarence M. Mitchell III, MSA SC 3520-2731". Msa.md.gov. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
- ^ "Mitchell remembered as pioneer, fighter for justice". The Baltimore Sun. October 21, 2012.
- ^ Barone, Michael; and Ujifusa, Grant. The Almanac of American Politics 1988', p. 534. National Journal, 1987.
- ^ Wenger, Yvonne; Kelly, Jacques (October 12, 2012). "Former Md. Sen. Clarence M. Mitchell III dies at 72". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 26, 2012.