Posted on 06/22/23
| News Source: FOX45
As the 2024 race for Mayor of Baltimore gets closer, a former holder of the city's top office appears to be considering another run.
"There is a strong possibility that that's the case. I think that this is the time that if I'm going to do it, I have to do it now," said former mayor Sheila Dixon in an interview with Armstrong Williams. "I think I've been that leader, and I can become that leader again."
Dixon became the first woman to serve as mayor in 2007 when then-Mayor Martin O'Malley won the race for governor. While she served the remainder of O'Malley's term, she ran for a full term as the city's leader.
She beat eight candidates in the September 11, 2007, primary. Her closest competitor was Keiffer Mitchell, Jr, who lost by 34,000 votes. Dixon went on to beat Elbert Henderson in the general election; voter registration in Baltimore heavily favors Democrats.
Dixon is credited with reducing the city's homicide rate to the lowest in 30 years during her term as mayor. Other initiatives include her efforts for a cleaner, greener Baltimore and a city-wide smoking ban.
If Dixon were to run for mayor again, she said she would bring back crime-fighting strategies that she said she found successful. She said the city needs to recruit police officers aggressively and talk to experienced officers who are retiring.
Dixon said she also wanted to get police officers out of their cars and onto the streets. "Walk the beat. Not for 15 minutes, but literally be out there - if it means - all day," said Dixon.
During Dixon's term as mayor, she became embroiled in controversy. Dixon drew criticism in 2008 after the Board of Estimates approved a pay raise for city officials. At the time, she said she deserved the pay raise and, at first, refused to give it up. One day later, she did.
An investigation was launched into her spending habits, which eventually led to a grand jury indictment on 12 counts, including three counts each of theft and misappropriation, misconduct, and perjury.
Dixon left office in 2010 as part of a plea deal with prosecutors. She entered an Alford Plea, which does not admit guilt but acknowledged that prosecutors had enough evidence to convict her.
Dixon received probation before judgment, which under Maryland law, is not a conviction, and allowed her to keep her Baltimore City pension. Dixon addressed the issue during her discussion with Williams.
"I've learned that some of the mistakes that I've made, that that doesn't define me and who I am. But, what it did was made me stronger in my belief in what I know this city can become," said Dixon. Dixon also said she would not let it hold her back from living her life.
Dixon tried again to become mayor in 2020. Dixon fell about 3,000 votes short of beating current Mayor Brandon Scott in the Democratic primary.
Williams asked Dixon what issues have disappointed her the most, and she said issues with education. "We need to tear down the entire system and start over," said Dixon.
Dixon said she has given another run for mayor a tremendous amount of thought.
"If the voters choose and understand who I am as a person, then they will see the difference and impact I can make," said Dixon.