Chocolate City: The Best African American Blog

By: Tolbert Yarkpawolo

A screen shot from Baltimore's WBAL-TV showing Mayor Sheila Dixon as she fights back tears during her resignation announcement.

 

"It was with deep regret and sadness that I'm resigning as mayor," Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon said as she read her letter of resignation today. She also added, "I'm saddened not by the decision I made but because I had a great staff that worked hard. I love this city and I love the people of this city, and I'm committed to the city in whatever capacity or talents that God has called me to continue to do."

On Wednesday, Ms. Dixon and her lawyer entered an Alford plea, which means she didn't admit guilt but acknowledged that the State of Maryland has enough evidence against her. According to the deal, Dixon will get probation before judgment in both cases, meaning she can keep her pension that's worth more than $80,000 a year. She won't have any criminal record. She will also have to make a $45,000 donation to the Bea Gaddy Foundation and do 500 hours of community service with Our Daily Bread. She also agreed to sell the gifts she received from developers, including a fur coat and electronics she bought with gift cards, and give the proceeds to charity.

Ms. Dixon is the first female mayor of Baltimore. Her resignation is effective Feb. 4, which would have been the day of her sentencing on 12 counts of corruption.

The current City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who is also  African American, will take over after Ms. Dixon steps down on February 4th. In 1995, at age 25, Rawlings-Blake was the youngest person to be elected to the City Council. She was elected by her colleagues in January 2007 as City Council president, after the former president, Sheila Dixon, became mayor.

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