Mayor of Baltimore

Mayor of Baltimore. The Mayor of Baltimore is the chief executive of Baltimore, Maryland, and is elected to a four-year term. The mayor is responsible for overseeing the administration of the city and is assisted by the Baltimore City Council, which is composed of Democratic and Republican members, including Sheila Dixon, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, and Catherine Pugh. The mayor also works closely with other city officials, such as the Comptroller of Baltimore and the Baltimore City State's Attorney, including Marilyn Mosby and Patricia Jessamy.

History of the Office

The office of the Mayor of Baltimore was established in 1797, with James Calhoun (Maryland) serving as the first mayor. Over the years, the office has been held by notable figures such as Theodore McKeldin, Thomas D'Alesandro Jr., and William Donald Schaefer, who later became the Governor of Maryland. The mayor has played a significant role in shaping the city's development, including the construction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Inner Harbor. Other notable mayors include Kurt Schmoke, who served from 1987 to 1999, and Martin O'Malley, who later became the Governor of Maryland and a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, running against Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

Powers and Duties

The Mayor of Baltimore has a range of powers and duties, including overseeing the city's budget, which is approved by the Baltimore City Council and includes funding for institutions such as the Baltimore City Community College and the Enoch Pratt Free Library. The mayor is also responsible for appointing officials such as the Baltimore City Police Commissioner, including Frederick H. Bealefeld III and Anthony Batts, and the Baltimore City Fire Chief, including James Clack and Niles Ford. Additionally, the mayor plays a key role in promoting economic development in the city, including the revitalization of neighborhoods such as Fell's Point and Harbor East, and the development of projects such as the Baltimore Harbor East and the Port Covington redevelopment, which involves companies such as Under Armour and Sagamore Development Company.

List of Mayors

The list of mayors of Baltimore includes James Calhoun (Maryland), Thornton Fleming, John Montgomery (Maryland), Edward Johnson (Maryland), George Stiles, John Hanson Thomas, Jacob F. Howard, and Elihu Emory Jackson, among others. Other notable mayors include William T. Hamilton, Ferdinand Claiborne Latrobe, and Robert Maclay, who served during the American Civil War. More recent mayors include Kurt Schmoke, Martin O'Malley, Sheila Dixon, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, and Catherine Pugh, who have all played a significant role in shaping the city's development, including the implementation of programs such as the Baltimore City Housing Authority and the Baltimore City Public Schools reform, which involves institutions such as Morgan State University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Elections

The Mayor of Baltimore is elected in a non-partisan election, with the winner serving a four-year term. The election is typically held in November of every fourth year, with the most recent election taking place in 2020. The election involves a range of candidates, including Democratic and Republican nominees, as well as independent candidates, such as Brandon Scott and Sheila Dixon. The election is overseen by the Baltimore City Board of Elections, which is responsible for ensuring the integrity of the electoral process, including the use of voting systems such as the Diebold Election Systems and the Dominion Voting Systems.

Current Mayor

The current Mayor of Baltimore is Brandon Scott, who was elected in 2020 and took office in December of that year. Brandon Scott has prioritized issues such as public safety, education, and economic development, including the implementation of programs such as the Baltimore City YouthWorks and the Baltimore City Small Business Development Center, which involves institutions such as the Baltimore Development Corporation and the University of Baltimore. Brandon Scott has also worked to address issues such as crime in Baltimore, including the implementation of initiatives such as the Baltimore City Crime Reduction Strategy and the Baltimore City Police Department reform, which involves organizations such as the Fraternal Order of Police and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.