The Mayor is about to make her official campaign announcement in front of her childhood home (while other mayoral candidates prepare for a debate that hardly anyone knows about). She is a mayor without any major controversy and with many connections that could lead her to higher positions in the future. Despite the mayor's solid political standing she has at least four major challengers who currently say they want the position she currently holds. The experts are not giving these challengers much of a chance.
Jack Young is the current President of the City Council. He is a horrible public speaker and he was caught up in a Jayne Miller researched residency scandal. The previous act of that scandal ended comically with the Council President inviting reporters to look at his underwear. Young's residency tribulations have yet to be totally buried and his arrogant actions and statements after Tom Kiefaber's act of civil disobedience last week show that he does not fully understand some Baltimore voters. Young wanted Kiefaber to say he was sorry, but there are plenty of people out there who think Young is the one who should be apologizing for his past actions.
So why does Young have no major competition and the Mayor does? City Council President is a position that many of our recent mayors have held before becoming mayor. I believe there is a decent chance of Rawlings-Blake leaving office in 2014 to run for a higher office and thus making the 2014 city council president the next mayor. Why isn't anyone taking a chance (as of today) and taking on Young?
At least one of the current candidates running for mayor should switch races and give Young a run for his money. Even though many of our leaders stood up to support Young at his announcement, I do not think that makes him unbeatable. Such a move could backfire for a few council members if their competitors frame things the right way.
I definitely would rather see Rolley or Landers as council president. They are smart, fiscally responsible, and they can speak properly. I hope one of them takes a shot at the very beatable Young.
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