Frank M. Conaway Sr. is dropping out of the race for Baltimore City mayor to throw his support behind rival candidate Council Member Keiffer Mitchell Jr.

The announcement was made during a live televised debate Monday night and was intended to consolidate support behind one candidate who could beat Mayor Sheila Dixon, Conaway said earlier. Conaway currently serves as clerk of City Circuit Court.

“I had meeting with other candidates and talked about who had the best chance of defeating Mayor Sheila Dixon, and we decided it was Mr. Mitchell,” he said.

On Friday, Conaway called a meeting of Andre Bundley and State Del. Jill Carter to discuss who would drop out of the race. Conaway said the result of the meeting, which Carter did not attend, was that he decided to step down.

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“I’m throwing myself on my own sword and making the sacrifice,” he said.

Of particular concern to the perennial candidate for mayor was a break from the policies of Dixon’s predecessor, Gov. Martin O’Malley.

“I considered supporting Dixon, but she is continuing the policies of the former Mayor Martin O’Malley administration, and I could not in good conscience endorse that,” he said.

But Carter ripped Conaway for endorsing Mitchell.

"It’s illogical for Conaway to support Mitchell if he wants to defeat Dixon,” she said. “They (Dixon and Mitchell) are both part of the failed leadership. He gains nothing. They are both under clouds for questionable practices in their campaigns.”

Bundley said Conaway’s endorsement of Mitchell was ill-conceived.

“It doesn’t surprise me,” he said. “It shows confusion.”

Officials for the Mitchell campaign welcomed the support.

sjanis@baltimoreexaminer.com