Sheila Dixon kicks off campaign for mayor
Former Baltimore mayor focuses on crime
Published 6:55 PM EDT Sep 13, 2015
BALTIMORE —Shelia Dixon officially kicked off her mayoral campaign Sunday, and she's hoping to convince voters to put her back in office.
The 2016 primary is fast shaping up to be a potential game changer for the city's political landscape. On one side of City Hall, there will be some changing of the guard on City Council, but the burning question is what about that side where the incumbent mayor sits?
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Dixon preparing for run for Baltimore mayor
Shelia Dixon ramping up run for Baltimore mayor
Former Mayor Sheila Dixon has stated her intention of trying to win her old job back and she has started to chime in on the recent violence in the city.
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Dixon was mayor from 2007 to 2010 before resigning as part of a plea agreement after being found guilty on one misdemeanor count of fraudulent misappropriation. Dixon received probation after the conviction, which stemmed in large part from charges that she misappropriated gift cards intended for the poor. She also served 500 hours of community service and donated $45,000 to two HIV charities.
She wants voters to give her a second shot at running the city, saying voters can have confidence in who she is and what she can do.
Crime was a major issue when Dixon ran in 2007, with the homicide rate that was on pace to top 300. She endorsed community policing, and, as mayor, she belonged to the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition.
In the wake of this weekend's multiple homicides and shootings, Dixon said she has what it takes to stop the violence.
"We were targeting the most violent offenders; getting our police officers out of the cars, into the community, getting to know the neighbors, getting to know those communities they represent; getting illegal guns off of the street through our gun registry. So I have a track record of reducing the crime," Dixon said.
Under Dixon a citywide smoking ban was passed, and she allocated record funding for cleanup campaigns, strengthened youth recreation centers and pushed developers to hire locally.
http://www.wbaltv.com/news/sheila-dixon-kicks-off-campaign-for-mayor/35254730
