Sheila Dixon, once the mayor of Baltimore from 2007 to 2010, recently declared her intention to run for the mayoral position again, 13 years after her resignation amid a scandal.
The Associated Press reported that Dixon’s resignation followed a jury’s verdict, which found her guilty of embezzling $500 from donated gift cards. These cards, meant for local charities, were instead used by Dixon to purchase gifts for her family and staff.
“I have truly made mistakes in my personal life, one of which resulted in a misdemeanor charge that forced my resignation from the job I loved the most,” Dixon wrote in an op-ed for The Baltimore Sun. “I let matters of the heart lead me astray once before, and for that, and the pain that it caused to my beloved Baltimore, I am truly sorry. I hope the people realize that my love for the future of Baltimore outweighs the mistakes of my past.”
Reports from the Courthouse News Service indicate that Dixon’s “matters of the heart” pertained to an affair she had with a city contractor during her tenure as mayor of Baltimore, the largest city in the state of Maryland.
Dixon’s letter to the public not only expressed her remorse but also highlighted her achievements and community service during her time as mayor. She criticized the city’s current leadership, asserting that they have disappointed Baltimore’s citizens over the past decade. Her tenure as mayor saw a reduction in murders and a more efficient government response to local issues, as reported by Courthouse News.
“We need to have accountability,” Dixon told Fox 45 News.
Local media outlet The Real News Network noted that during Dixon’s tenure, there was a significant decrease in nonfatal shootings, homicides and arrests. Dixon’s approach emphasized targeted arrests and the deployment of plain-clothes police officers.
“I’ve learned from my mistakes. I want people to give me another chance, [and] I know that I’m going to have to gain people’s trust,” Dixon told Fox 45 News. “I try to be the most transparent, truthful, honest person that there is and people will just have to, you know, see the results. A lot of times, it’s not a matter of just saying it, it’s a matter of your actions behind it.”
This campaign marks Dixon’s third attempt since her removal to reclaim her former position as the executive of Baltimore, a city known as “Charm City” for its outstanding culture and friendly personality. Only time will tell whether she will reclaim power in the home town of Edgar Allen Poe, Old Bay and the acclaimed Baltimore Orioles baseball team.
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