Kimberly Clark-Baskin sworn in as Pittsburgh’s city clerk

Julia Felton | Tuesday, September 13, 2022 2:31 p.m.

Julia Felton | Tribune-Review

Kimberly Clark-Baskin poses with family and members of City Council after being appointed Pittsburgh’s city clerk on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022.

Pittsburgh City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint Kimberly Clark-Baskin as city clerk.

Clark-Baskin, a former assistant city clerk, has served as acting clerk since her predecessor Brenda Pree left the post last month.

“I look forward to continuing to work with you all and paving a new lane for this council, for myself and for the clerk’s office,” Clark-Baskin told council members.

Her three-year appointment takes effect immediately. Magisterial District Judge James Motznik swore her in during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

“Kim has served the city since the age of 18 and her institutional knowledge of council is unparalleled,” City Council President Theresa Kail-Smith said.

Clark-Baskin has worked with the city since 1994, starting her career as a typist immediately after graduating from Westinghouse High School. She became the assistant city clerk in 2014.

Kail-Smith and others had suggested that Clark-Baskin should have been promoted to city clerk in 2014, when Pree was appointed instead. Pree left the city last month to accept a position as the city clerk in Palm Springs, Calif.

Clark-Baskin holds a bachelor’s degree from Carlow University and is a certified municipal clerk. She is working to earn her master municipal clerk certification and is on track to become one of four certified master municipal clerks in Pennsylvania.