Clarence Royce
| Clarence V. Royce | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| First appearance | "Time after Time" (episode 3.01) |
| Last appearance | "React Quotes" (episode 5.05) |
| Created by | David Simon |
| Portrayed by | Glynn Turman |
| Information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Former Mayor of Baltimore |
Clarence V. Royce is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Glynn Turman.
Clarence V. Royce is the incumbent Mayor of Baltimore, originally elected to office in 1998 and in the process of seeking re-election at the time of the show. He is advised by Chief of Staff Coleman Parker and State Delegate Odell Watkins. Royce values loyalty and aims to reward it whenever it will not hurt his position to do so. He appoints Ervin Burrell as acting commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department following the retirement of Warren Frazier.
Royce first appears at the demolition of the Franklin Terrace housing projects as a means of demonstrating reform throughout Baltimore. With a new election approaching, Parker notices the increasing influence of Councilman Tommy Carcetti, a public critic of Burrell, and deduces that he is planning a run against Royce for Mayor. Royce initially scoffs at the idea of Carcetti becoming Mayor, believing that the white Carcetti couldn't possibly be elected in a predominantly black city like Baltimore. Royce and his team, however, soon sense that Carcetti will use the city's rising crime rate to attack the Mayor.
Royce calls on Burrell to reduce the felony rate citywide, and orders the BPD to reduce felonies by a minimum of 5% in each district and keep the murder rate below 275 for the year in order to counter Carcetti's campaign. When crime rates begin to rise, Parker and Watkins urge Royce to fire Burrell as commissioner. Royce finds himself caught between the careerist Burrell and the decent State's Attorney Demper, both of whom have been loyal to the Mayor. When Watkins helps Marla Daniels take the seat of Royce loyalist Eunetta Perkins on the City Council, Royce holds up her husband's promotion and supports Perkins.
...
Wikipedia