Cummings endorses "steady," "honest" Rawlings-Blake
Rep. Elijah Cummings endorsed Thursday Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's bid to retain her office, describing her as a "steady" and "honest" leader and said she should not be "taken for granted."
"It gives me great pleasure to say I will do everything in my power to make sure Stephanie Rawlings-Blake continues to be mayor for another four years," said Cummings, speaking in front of the recently-opened Marshall's at Mondawmin Mall.
Cummings said that he had known Rawlings-Blake, the daughter of the late Del. Howard P. Rawlings, all of her life and closely watched and advised her political career since she was first elected to the City Council in 1995.
"I am so proud to see Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake emerge to become the great leader that she is," said Cummings.
Rawlings-Blake has led the city through "stormy circumstances," said Cummings, referring to the economic downturn. As if on cue, the rain intensified and thunder rumbled as he spoke.
Cummings praised Rawlings-Blake's "honest" approach to the city's budget deficits over the past two years. Being mayor is more challenging that some realize, he said.
"You have to make sure the potholes are fixed and the snow gets picked up," he said. "You have to be someone who can walk with the people and talk with the president."
"This is a woman who goes into that office every day and does everything she can to empower the citizens of our city," said Cummings, who spoke extemporaneously and without notes.
A crowd of about 30 people, including the mayor's mother, Dr. Nina Rawlings, braved the rain for the campaign event.
Rawlings-Blake read from prepared remarks that reiterated many of the points from her February State of the City speech.
She touted her overall of the fire and police pension system, changes to the composition of the city's ethics board and efforts to close to budget shortfalls without laying off police officers and while fully funding the city's obligations to public schools.
Rawlings-Blake said she gets the job done with "no excuses, no blame game, no sugarcoating, no pie-in-the-sky plans."
She also praised last year's decreases in homicides and violent crimes, but did mention homicide rates for the current year-- which are 23 percent higher than the same period in 2010.
Comments
Sorry, we need a mayor who is tough on crime and those who commit the crimes. The city is experiencing a huge spike in crime since SRB took office. For all of Sheila's faults, she seemed to be able to move in a consistently positive direction concerning crime. Baltimore is now listed as the THIRD Most Dangerous city in America. Gee, I want me some more of that leadership!
Posted by: Woodie | April 28, 2011 3:39 PM
I wonder what he will say when he announces he is supporting her again next week? Didn't he already do this? Guess it didn't draw enough publicity the first time. Does this mean the Congressman Cummings endorses incompetence and an administration that has turned their backs on City voters?
Posted by: Brian Vaeth | April 28, 2011 4:12 PM
SRB is nothing but a rubber stamp puppet of MOM.
So much for the historic reductions in crime our elected officials constantly spout off about.
Charm City is The Wire.
I long for the day I can afford to move out of this over taxed, crime ridden dump of a city.
Posted by: john | April 28, 2011 4:36 PM
Cut the property tax. If you don't provide an incentive for actual tax"payers" to move here, it's a lost cause.
Posted by: jijiN | April 28, 2011 5:01 PM
Wow, steady and honest. That's usually the first two things I look for in a candidate! How about "effective", "productive", "tough on crime", "fiscally responsible", "a leader" . . . ???? STEADY???? I'm still trying to figure out what the hell that means. At least honest has some substance. Way to go Elijah!!
Posted by: outtahere | April 28, 2011 6:33 PM
Baltimore WAKE UP! She was elected in 1995 what she done for the City of Baltimore? Towing scandal, increase in crime, voting on contracts from her husband's employer. What ARE her priorities other than getting elected?
He said "This is a woman who goes into that office every day and does everything she can to empower the citizens of our city,” Mr. Cummings I think you need to take a drive in my hood and talk to me about empowerment. Our children are killing each other, we need jobs! What a shameless display of bureaucracy at its worst. We can do better, we NEED better…we DESERVE better!
Posted by: give me a break | April 28, 2011 11:08 PM