Value-My-Vote 2011 Series
One has represented the residents of East Baltimore’s 12th council district for about 14-years; the other has represented Northwest residents in the Maryland House of Delegates 41st district over the past decade. Both are Democrats and viewed by many as community driven elected officials. One is an attractive female, the other a bald-headed Blackman. He’s frequently been attached to a powerful political organization known as E.D.O. (East Baltimore Democratic Organization), she has been shunned by the Democratic machinery due to her consistent independent stance on behalf of the people. One had her legacy laid out before her, due to her father’s brilliant work in the community, while the other forged his way forward to create his own legacy. Yet both are attractive candidates for Baltimore’s #2 position in local government, which has seen the past two Council Presidents emerging as Mayor without so much a single vote from City residents – due to the succession process etched into the Baltimore City Charter. However, the question remains:
Who could siphon off enough votes citywide to become Baltimore’s next City Council President?
The incumbent, Bernard C. ‘Jack’ Young, the former councilman of the 12th council district, succeeded now Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake in February 2010 after a unanimous vote by his council colleagues. He defeated an attempt by his longtime colleague to have Councilman William ‘Bill’ Cole elected President, after rumors swirled that the newly elected Mayor was backing a Cole candidacy over the well-liked and assumed candidate for the position - Jack Young.
He promised an allegiance to the people, and the council, declaring his stance against the administration as being a true checks and balances President for the citizens of Baltimore. He survived multiple attempts by journalists’ such as Jane Miller, in their attempt to link him with houses outside the City, focusing on his state employment concurrent with his City employment as a Councilman and his family members working for City departments that could possibly become a conflict of interests, having legislation before the Council. Yet, the 56-year old Baltimore native faces his biggest challenge to date, facing his first citywide race amongst an electorate not familiar with his past leadership or name; and the possibility of facing the first major challenger in his 4-term career.
The possible challenger, Jill P. Carter, is the current state delegate for the 41st district, who since her first election in 2002 in the Northwest area of Baltimore remains the top vote getter in the district – and at times throughout the entire field of city candidates. She is the daughter of Baltimore civil rights legend Walter P. Carter and has since become the ‘voice of the people’, leading to her many tussles with the leadership of the Democratic Party. She’s run unsuccessful campaigns for Mayor in the past, yet has never lost a race in her district due to her popularity for being very outspoken and driven by her passion for the politics of the people.
Her name is synonymous with an agent for change and she would certainly have an army of volunteers to hit the streets for her campaign; yet the elected leadership of this City, and State, would likely throw their support behind the more party-aligned candidacy of Young? However, the challenge remains real based on a few things such as: her name would be first on the ballot, meaning a lot of voters unfamiliar with the issues or candidates would vote for the first name they see that is familiar to them. She is a woman, and as Baltimore has seen with a recently woman dominated leadership structure, means a lot in the sense that women are the major force in most elections, being the leading target group of voters who actually come out on Election Day. Baltimore has not seen an East Baltimore politician win a citywide election since the days of Clarence ‘Du’ Burns, thereby lending Carter an added advantage based on city geographic and history. Speaking to the need for change, and an allegiance to the people rather than the Rawlings-Blake/O’Malley incumbency, she could certainly take full advantage of her past battles with this alliance while pointing to the political allegiance Young has with the administration.
Though this race would certainly come down to who could best relay their message and name recognition to the people, with Young having a sizeable financial advantage over Carter, it could also leave room for a white candidate to allow Carter and Young to split the black vote – allowing for the white candidate to run right up the middle with the decisive white vote; who almost assuredly would not vote for either of these two progressively independent black candidates. Carter is seen as too close to the black electorate and Young not educated enough for either to pass what is known by some as the ‘Anglo-authenticity’ test. Those speculated to possibly take advantage of such a race: Michael Sarbanes, 1st district Councilman James ‘Jim’ Kraft, 11th district Councilman William ‘Bill’ Cole, 14th district Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke and former 46th district Senator George Della. Other black candidates sought to possibly run for the Office of Council President: 40th district Delegate Shawn Tarrant and current Mayoral candidate(s) Councilman Carl Stokes and Otis Rolley.
To vote for who you feel should be Baltimore’s next City Council President, go to the ValueMyVote page and vote for your candidate. Also be sure to vote for the issues you feel are the most vital areas facing Baltimore today, while lending your vote to the candidate you feel should be Baltimore’s next Mayor!
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