Mayors, Councilmembers, and Community Leaders from Across the Country Sign Letter Praising Baltimore City Council President’s Leadership and Vision
BALTIMORE, MD (Wednesday, May 13, 2020) — TODAY, nearly three dozen elected officials from around the country released a letter praising the leadership and vision of City Council President Brandon Scott and endorsing his campaign for Mayor of Baltimore. The letter of support was signed by national, state, and local elected leaders, including four mayors, five state representatives, and a number of city and county officials.
Their letter reads, in part: “Brandon has exuded leadership at the local and national level, and we are certain that Brandon will represent the city of Baltimore with grace and strength on all fronts. Baltimoreans can be certain that he will always put the people of Baltimore first — never shying away from hard decisions or giving in to a detrimental status quo.” Council President Brandon Scott announced the endorsement live on WBAL Radio's The C4 Show Wednesday morning. On the endorsements, he said: “I’m honored to have the support of so many visionary and inspiring leaders from around the country. Many of these elected officials, I’ve known and worked with for many years. Over that time, we’ve supported each other as we’ve fought for our communities and helped them inch closer to realizing their full potential through activism, legislation, and, sometimes, sheer willpower. I’m filled with gratitude and excitement to know they’re by my side as I look to take on this next challenge as Mayor of Baltimore.” The list of signatories includes Maryland State Delegate Alonzo T. Washington, Mayor of Greenbelt, MD Colin Byrd, Mayor of Ithaca, NY Svante Myrick, Mayor of St. Paul, MN Melvin Carter, and Milwaukee City Alderwoman Chantia Lewis. Brandon Scott has long been a leader among elected officials across the country. He is a member of the Young Elected Officials (YEO) Network and served as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for YEO’s America’s Cabinet. Brandon also serves as Chair of the National League of Cities' Large Cities Council, a role to which he was appointed in January.
A full list of endorsements can be viewed here.
The full text of the letter can be found below:
Dear Baltimore, We, the undersigned, support Brandon M. Scott to be the next Mayor of Baltimore City. As the entire country faces historic unemployment and an unprecedented public health crisis, leadership in our great cities is more important than ever. Everyday, mayors are tackling these challenges head-on in the absence of national unity and leadership. Baltimore has an opportunity to choose the future of leadership in the city in the midst of one of the most uncertain times in our history. Fortunately, there is one person seeking to lead Baltimore who is perfectly suited to shepherd Baltimore through this crisis and into a successful future with a unique blend of vision, experience, and integrity. Brandon has exuded leadership at the local and national level, and we are certain that Brandon will represent the city of Baltimore with grace and strength on all fronts. Baltimoreans can be certain that he will always put the people of Baltimore first — never shying away from hard decisions or giving in to a detrimental status quo. Baltimore will undoubtedly benefit from his work for change. He has a vision for a transformation approach to public safety to tackle gun violence, a plan to improve accountability in city government, and a roadmap for Baltimore’s recovery from the coronavirus crisis. These plans are driven by Brandon’s love for the city of Baltimore -- a love that is clear to anyone who has met or worked with him. His belief in Baltimore’s potential and dedication to its people drive him, and no one represents the best of Baltimore more than Brandon. We are excited to see his vision for a new way forward for Baltimore become a reality and are ready to support his work in any way we can. In all, we encourage you to support a better and brighter future in Baltimore by supporting Brandon M. Scott for mayor. Sincerely,
Alonzo T. Washington - Delegate, Maryland General Assembly Alphonso Amos - Former City Councilmember, Port Huron, MI Amanda L. Sargent - School Board Trustee, DeSoto, TX Andrea Barefield - Mayor Pro Tem (District 1), Waco, TX Ashley Vanorny - Councilmember (District 5), Cedar Rapids, IA Athena Salman - State Representative & House Democratic Whip, Arizona House of Representatives Dr. Brian Rowland - Mayor Pro Tem, Prairie View, TX Channel Powe - President of the Governing Board, Phoenix, AZ Chantia Lewis - Alderwoman, Milwaukee, WI Christopher A. Johnson - County Legislator, Westchester, NY Colin Byrd - Mayor, Greenbelt, MD David Bowen - State Representative, Milwaukee, WI Derrick Perry - President of Council, Norristown, PA Dr. Dorcey L. Applyrs - Chief City Auditor, Albany, NY Evetty Satterfield, MSW - School Board Member (District 1), Knox County, TN Hakim Jones - Councilman, Norristown, PA Kevin L. Carter - First Vice President, Board of Education, Pittsburgh, PA Jameesha Harris - Alderwoman (Ward 2), New Bern, NC Jane Kim - Member, Board of Supervisors, San Francisco, CA Jewell Jones - State Representative, Michigan House of Representatives Jon Hoadley - State Representative, Kalamazoo, MI Jonathon D. Randle - Mayor-Pro Tem, City Council, Prairie View, TX Korin L. Kirk - School Board Member, Binghamton, NY Lea Webb - Former City Councilmember, Binghamton NY Marcelia Nicholson - Chairwoman, Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors (District 5), Milwaukee, WI Marita Garrett - Mayor, Wilkinsburg, PA Melvin Carter - Mayor, Saint Paul, MN Nicole A. Brown - City Councilwoman, Ypsilanti, MI Paula Phillips - School Board Director, Milwaukee, WI Pious Ali - City Councilor (At-Large), Portland, ME Spencer Thibodeau - City Council (District 2), Portland, ME Stephanie N. Morales - Commonwealth's Attorney, Portsmouth, VA Svante Myrick - Mayor, Ithaca, NY Virgil Watkins Jr. - County Commissioner (District 8), Macon-Bibb County, GA Dr. Wes Bellamy - Former Vice-Mayor, Charlottesville, VA
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