WELCOME!
Thank you for visiting the City of Wilmington website.  I appreciate your interest in wanting to know more about the President of Wilmington City Council.

For over 30 years, I have been committed to the residents of the City of Wilmington.  I have a proven track record on issues such as education, public safety and sound fiscal management.

BIOGRAPHY

Ted Blunt was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is one of four children born to Helen and John Blunt. Ted and his brother, John, and his sisters, Jean and Catherine endured many hardships to reach the positions they have achieved today. Ted's mother always told her children they could be whatever they wanted, but that education was the key to that success. All four followed her lead, and today Ted's older sister runs her own public relations firm, his younger sister is a high school principal with the Philadelphia School System, his brother is a news anchor for Philadelphia's NBC, Channel 10 News, and Ted has had an illustrious career in both education in the Red Clay Consolidated School District, and government as a Wilmington City Council Member, and now as Council President.

Ted attended Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia where he was a nationally known basketball star. He attended Winston Salem State University where he continued his basketball career, playing with the great Earl "The Pearl" Monroe of NBA fame. In 1964, Ted, while a junior in college was one of twenty (20) student athletes selected to play on the NAIA's Olympic Trails basketball team.

While Ted is an avid sports enthusiast, his real passion has always been for public service. To this end, he graduated from Winston Salem State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education; and later received a Masters of Social Work Degree from Rutgers State University. Ted started his career working as a juvenile gang worker for the Crime Prevention Association, continued at Temple University as a group therapist for the mentally ill, served as the Program Director, and later as Acting Executive Director, of People's Settlement Association, and then with TransCentury Corporation as a Senior Associate.

In 1974, Ted accepted a position with the Red Clay Consolidated School District, and over the past thirty years, he has supervised the following programs and services: middle schools, special education schools, Special Services, Alternative Education Programs, Adult and Continuing Education Programs, Head Start, Follow Through, Groves High School, Elementary and Secondary Summer School, Title I, Title II, Title III, Drug Free Schools, Early Intervention Reading, Home Bound Instruction, Perkins Vocational Grant, Extra Time, Visiting Teachers, Student Relations Specialists, Nurses, Counselors, Latch Key Program, Summer Educational Camp Volunteer Services, Physical & Occupational Therapist, Speech Clinicians, Psychologist and Educational Diagnosticians.

Throughout his career, Ted has reached out to the community by serving in many volunteer positions. He was President of the Wilmington Youth Athletic Association, Chairman of the Wilmington Housing Authority Board, President of Haynes Park Civic Association & Chairman of the 9th Ward Democratic Club. He was Vice-Chair of the Delaware Agency For Specialized Transportation, and a Board member for the Christiana Cultural Arts Center, the Kingwood Community Center, and was appointed by the Governor to the Regional Drug Abuse Task Force. His close contacts with the Winston Salem State University Alumni and staff landed him on the Board of Trustees of his Alma Mater where he served as both the President of the Board and as Chairman of the school's Endowment Fund.

In 1985. Ted Blunt was elected to the Wilmington City Council where he served the City in many capacities including top positions on the Finance, Expenditure Review, Bond and the Audit Committees. He had key roles on the Cablevision Commission, the Board of Pensions and Retirement, the Home Ownership Corporation, and the Port Authority. Ted has also worked for the citizens of Wilmington on issues concerning housing, economic development, parks and recreation, education, and personnel. In 2000. Ted was elected President of the Wilminqton City Council and Chairman of the Wilminqton Cable Commission.

Ted's activities have won him many honors and awards. From certificates to plaques to trophies, people have said "thank you." He has appreciated all their efforts on his behalf; and is especially proud of having been inducted into the Winston/Salem State University, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the James Weldon Johnson Public Housing Project, and the National Alumni of Black Colleges and Universities Halls of Fame.

Loyal to his roots, and through his many successes, Ted has put family at the forefront of his life. In 1961, he married his childhood sweetheart, Alice Latrelle Jackson. They have three beautiful daughters, Lisa, Thea and Marla who are, themselves, carrying on the family tradition in education and public service. They have given Ted and Latrelle five grandchildren, and continue to be a closely-knit family. When reviewing the lives of the Blunts, one is reminded of the slogan of the Kent Family in John Jakes historical novels about America, Choose, Leave a Mark, and Make a Difference for the Better. The Blunts have done exactly that.

ELECTED OFFICE EXPERIENCE

Wilmington City Council 1st District: 1985 -2000 Wilmington City Council President: 2001 - Present

Professional Experiences
1974-2006: Red Clay Consolidated, New Castle County and Wilmington Public School Districts
1968-1974: Peoples Settlement Association, trans Century Corporation, and Temple University

To contact Council President Blunt:
Council President Theodore Blunt
Wilmington City Council
Louis L. Redding City/County Building
800 North French Street, 9th Floor
Wilmington, Delaware 19801-3537
Telephone: (302) 576-2141
Fax: (302)571-5071
E-Mail: tblunt@ci.wilminqton.de.us