Title
Recognizing and honoring Philadelphia native Kristen Welker for her outstanding, poised, and professional performance as moderator of the second and final 2020 Presidential Debate.
Body
WHEREAS, Kristen Welker is an award-winning broadcast television journalist that grew up in the City of Philadelphia. Welker was raised in the Fairmount neighborhood of the City and is a graduate of Germantown Friends School; and
WHEREAS, After graduating from Germantown Friends School, Welker went on to attend Harvard University, where she graduated with honors. While at Harvard, she began her career in broadcast journalism with an internship at NBC’s Today show in 1997; and
WHEREAS, Welker worked at ABC affiliates in several cities before returning to Philadelphia in 2005 to join NBC10 as a reporter and weekend anchor. In 2011, Welker became an NBC White House Correspondent. Welker is also currently a co-anchor of Weekend Today; and
WHEREAS, In September of 2020, Welker received the 7th Annual Washington Women in Journalism Award for Outstanding Journalist in Broadcast Television; and
WHEREAS, Welker is the first Black woman to moderate a presidential debate in 18 years. In 1992, Carole Simpson became the first female and African American presidential debate moderator in the debate between George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Ross Perot; and
WHEREAS, For the final 2020 Presidential Debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden held on October 22, 2020, Welker chose the topics of COVID-19, race, climate change, national security, leadership and American families; and
WHEREAS, Welker thoughtfully controlled the debate, asked tough and meaningful questions, and allowed for both candidates to provide answers within their allotted time-a stark difference from the first 2020 Presidential Debate that occurred on September 29, 2020; and
WHEREAS, Welker’s performance as moderator in the final 2020 Presidential Debate was praised by both Democrats and Republicans, and made the citizens of her hometown of Philadelphia extremely proud; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognizes and honors Philadelphia native Kristen Welker for her outstanding, poised, and professional performance as moderator in the second and final 2020 Presidential Debate.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Kristen Welker as evidence of the sincere respect and gratitude of this legislative body.
End