Former Mayor Sheila Dixon says she’s moved on from the scandal that caused her to resign from office in 2010.
Dixon was convicted of embezzlement and agreed to leave office five years ago, as part of a deal with prosecutors who were investigating the cozy relationship between elected officials and developers. She said during an appearance on WYPR’s Maryland Morning Wednesday she is trying to put all of that behind her as she again runs for mayor.
"A lot of people have been hurt as a result of all that, including my family and friends and people who love and believe in this city," Dixon said. "I’ve paid. I’m asking the public to forgive me. I’m asking for a second chance because I know that doesn’t define who I am and I’ve moved on."
Dixon also claimed that if she had been mayor last April, the rioting that followed the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody would not have happened. Dixon said when she was mayor, incidents of police misconduct were decreasing and communities were regaining trust in the police department.
Dixon is one of more than a dozen Democrats who are vying for the party’s nomination to run for mayor. The primary is April 26.