Blackwell, Lucien, 1931-2003

Lucien Edward Blackwell (August 1, 1931 – January 24, 2003) was an American politician. He served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1973 to 1975, Philadelphia City Council from 1975 to 1991, and the United States House of Representatives from 1991 to 1995.

Born in Whitsett, Fayette County, Pennsylvania on August 1, 1931, he attended West Philadelphia High School for a period before dropping out and taking a job as a dockworker. In 1953, he was drafted into the United States Army and served in the Korean War. After his service ended, he returned to the docks as a longshoreman. In 1973, he became the president of the International Longshoremen's Association, Local 1332.

Blackwell's professional political career began with election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives where he served from 1973 to 1975. "Lucien the Solution" was best known as a vibrant member of the Philadelphia City Council from 1975 to 1991. While serving on the Council, Blackwell served several terms as Chairman of the Finance Committee, where he led the charge to divest pension funds from businesses doing business in South Africa. Blackwell was perhaps best known for his fiery oratory on the Council floor and for serving as a mentor to the former Philadelphia Mayor (and Council President) John Street. During his City Council tenure, Blackwell was an unsuccessful candidate for mayor of Philadelphia in both 1979 and 1991.

Blackwell was elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Second Congress by special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Representative Bill Gray, and reelected to the succeeding Congress. In Congress, Blackwell was a member of the United States House Committee on the Budget and a reliable advocate for President Bill Clinton's economic policies. He was ultimately an unsuccessful candidate for renomination to the One Hundred Fourth Congress in 1994, losing the primary to Chaka Fattah, and served as a lobbyist following his tenure in Congress.

On January 24, 2003, Blackwell died at the age of 71.