Clarence Mitchell IV

Mitchell 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]

Mitchell 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 opposition to Gov. Parris Glendening's redistricting plan, but reporting also mentioned Mitchell's support for 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 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]

In 1995 Mitchell participated in a radio show hosted by his father Clarence M. Mitchell III and his sister Lisa Mitchell on WOLB-AM.[12] Since 2007 Mitchell has 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]

• Appearances on C-SPAN