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Dixon Launches Her Comeback

P. Kenneth Burns
/
WYPR

Sheila Dixon launched her bid to get her old job back; mayor of Baltimore.

Dixon officially started her campaign Sunday with an ice cream social at the B&O Railroad Museum.

She told more than 200 supporters in the crowd that it’s the people of Baltimore who are the city’s greatest gift.

“We can’t just rely on City Hall to solve our problems, change comes from us,” Dixon said.  “This community knows how to turn things around.”

Dixon is officially beginning her campaign two days after Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced she will not seek re-election and focus on running the city.  Dixon announced her intentions to run over the summer; setting up what was expected to be a heated competition between the two.

Dixon promised an effective crime-fighting plan in addition to working with the state on improving public transportation, balancing development downtown with revitalizing the neighborhoods and also a cleaner city.

“The time for on the job training has surely passed,” she said.  “We need a mayor who knows the community and is ready to listen to the people of our community and lead.”

Dixon proclaimed that “[she] knows Baltimore and Baltimore knows [her].”

The former mayor took over for Martin O’Malley when he became governor in 2007.  She left office in 2010 following a misconduct conviction.

Dixon hopes people who are “apprehensive” will give her another chance

“I say to them that they can have confidence in who I am, what I can do as mayor that I would keep and maintain transparency and run city government as effectively and efficiency and work within every community to have voices heard and listen to people, she said.”

Several city council members attended Dixon’s event: City Council President Jack Young, Council Vice President Ed Reisinger and Councilwoman Mary Pat Clark.

Clark said Dixon has paid the price and people should give her another chance.

Dixon is one of three well known names who want to be the city’s next chief executive.  State Senate Majority Leader Catherine Pugh and Councilman Carl Stokes announced their mayoral campaigns last week.  Councilman Brandon Scott, who has been mentioned as a possible mayoral candidate, said Friday he will be making a decision over the next couple of months.  Councilman Nick Mosby is also, reportedly, thinking about running for mayor.

The mayoral primary is April 16, 2016.  However, it is viewed as the de-facto mayoral election because of Baltimore being a heavily Democratic city; making the November general election a formality.