Brandon Scott
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| Brandon Scott | |
|---|---|
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| Name | Brandon Scott |
| Office | Mayor of Baltimore |
| Term start | December 8, 2020 |
| Predecessor | Bernard C. "Jack" Young |
| Birth date | 8 April 1984 |
| Birth place | Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | Boston University |
Brandon Scott is an American politician serving as the mayor of Baltimore, Maryland. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served on the Baltimore City Council and as City Council President Pro Tempore. Scott's tenure as mayor has focused on public safety, economic development, housing, and municipal reform. He is one of the youngest mayors of a major American city and a prominent figure in Maryland politics.
Early life and education
Scott was born in Baltimore and raised in the city’s West Baltimore neighborhood, attending local public schools and community programs associated with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and local faith institutions. He graduated from Baltimore City College before studying at Boston University, where he completed a degree in political science and studied public policy and urban affairs alongside research affiliated with regional institutions like the Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Political career
Scott began his political career as an organizer and staffer working on city campaigns and coalitions aligned with leaders from the Maryland Democratic Party, collaborating with elected officials from the Maryland General Assembly and municipal offices. He ran for and won a seat on the Baltimore City Council representing a West Baltimore district, serving on committees that interfaced with agencies such as the Baltimore Police Department, the Maryland Department of Transportation, and departments overseeing housing and economic development. During his council tenure he aligned with municipal reform advocates and partnered with nonprofit organizations including United Way Worldwide, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and community development corporations linked to federal programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
As a councilmember he was elevated to leadership roles including Council President Pro Tempore, collaborating with mayoral administrations from the Office of the Mayor of Baltimore and negotiating with state leaders including members of the Maryland Senate and Maryland House of Delegates on city-state matters such as budgetary transfers, public safety funding, and infrastructure projects tied to agencies like the Maryland Transit Administration.
Mayoralty of Baltimore
Elected mayor in 2020 amid national debates about policing and urban governance, Scott succeeded Bernard C. "Jack" Young and took office during the COVID-19 pandemic, coordinating with public health authorities including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Maryland Department of Health, and municipal health partners. His administration has engaged with federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Justice on consent decree-related matters, worked with labor unions including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Fraternal Order of Police, and pursued collaborations with philanthropic entities like the Kresge Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Scott's mayoralty has overseen initiatives in public safety reform in partnership with the Baltimore Police Department leadership, workforce development programs tied to the Baltimore Workforce Fund, and urban redevelopment projects that involve stakeholders such as the Maryland Stadium Authority and private developers from the Greater Baltimore Committee. His office has also negotiated bond issuances and capital plans with financial institutions regulated under federal statutes and has interfaced with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on affordable housing pipelines.
Policy positions and initiatives
Scott has prioritized public safety measures combining policing reform, community policing strategies, and investments in violence prevention programs supported by foundations like the Annie E. Casey Foundation and local nonprofit networks. He has advocated for changes to firearm diversion programs, collaborated with prosecutors from offices such as the Baltimore City State's Attorney and engaged with federal law enforcement partners including the Federal Bureau of Investigation on violent crime task forces.
On economic development, Scott has promoted small business support programs coordinated with the Chamber of Commerce of Baltimore County, targeted tax incentives debated in the Baltimore City Council, and workforce training collaborations with institutions like Community College of Baltimore County and Morgan State University. His housing agenda includes preservation of affordable housing units with funding applications to the Maryland Housing Authority and tenant protections referenced in municipal ordinances debated with neighborhood associations and housing advocacy groups including Habitat for Humanity affiliates.
Scott’s climate resilience and infrastructure priorities have sought federal funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and investments aligned with state resilience plans developed by the Maryland Department of the Environment, while transit and mobility projects have involved the Maryland Transit Administration and regional planning bodies such as the Baltimore Metropolitan Council.
Electoral history
Scott first won election to the Baltimore City Council in a primary and general cycle that included endorsements from local and national figures associated with the Democratic National Committee and civic organizations. In the 2020 mayoral Democratic primary he competed against candidates aligned with factions of the municipal Democratic establishment, winning the nomination and then prevailing in the general election to succeed Bernard C. "Jack" Young. His campaigns have received support from labor groups like the Service Employees International Union and political action committees active in Maryland politics.
Personal life
Scott lives in Baltimore and is active in local civic life, engaging with faith communities, neighborhood associations, and youth organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and local chapters of national nonprofits. He has appeared on panels with academics from Johns Hopkins University and leaders from philanthropic institutions including the Annie E. Casey Foundation to discuss urban policy and public safety. Category:Mayors of Baltimore