http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/elections/bal-te.md.dixon11nov11,0,2676857.story?coll=bal-election-headlines
From the Baltimore Sun
Dixon plans for mayor's office
Aiming for a cleaner and healthier city, council president names her
transition team
By Kelly Brewington
Sun reporter
November 11, 2006
City Council President Sheila Dixon made a first step toward taking
over the reins at City Hall yesterday, unveiling a transition plan that
seeks to bring together neighborhoods and business interests while
making the conversion to a new administration "as seamless as possible."
Dixon will ascend to the city's highest elected position in January,
becoming Baltimore's first woman mayor. By city charter, she will serve
out the remainder of Gov.-elect Martin O'Malley's term - from January
through December 2007. Dixon has also expressed her desire to run in
2007 for a full term in what is sure to be a jam-packed field of
contenders.
In a City Hall news conference yesterday, Dixon announced a slate of
well-connected business, community and development leaders to make up
her transition team and shared a vision for a cleaner, healthier
Baltimore that she said would expand upon gains made by the O'Malley
administration.
Prominent banker Atwood "Woody" Collins III, head of M&T Bank
Corp.'s Mid-Atlantic division, and Betty Bland-Thomas, president of the
Sharp-Leadenhall Community Association, will lead the team, choices
Dixon said are emblematic of her governing philosophy.
"If we have strong neighborhoods and if our businesses are strong, we
can create jobs, expand our tax base and help our families be
healthier," she said in an interview after the announcement.
Dixon has called on well-connected political minds such as former state
Sen. Barbara A. Hoffman, who will advise on education and lobbying
activity in Annapolis, and Mark L. Wasserman, a senior vice president
of external affairs at the University of Maryland Medical System, to
assist on constituent issues.
The nuts and bolts of the team's operations will be led by development
experts Andrew B. Frank, executive vice president of the Baltimore
Development Corp., and Otis Rolley III, the city planning director.
"They have both played a vital role in the city's current success,"
said Dixon during the announcement. "I believe they can provide the
talent, energy and expertise needed to staff this team, during the
brief and ambitious transition period."
Aides to the council president said last night that more names will be
added in coming days.
Dixon also offered a glimpse into her vision for Baltimore - focusing
on stronger ties between city and state school boards, creating
affordable housing and healthy, safer neighborhoods and continuing
O'Malley's economic development efforts.
"I want a cleaner city," said Dixon, adding she wants to meet with the
city's Public Works Department to discuss improvements and the possible
creation of a recycling education program. "Some people might think
that's a small thing, but people who live in Baltimore would like to
see their city clean."
Still, Dixon is expected to confront many of the city's challenges in
the same vein as O'Malley, whom she frequently backed politically in
her role in the No. 2 job.
Dixon said she would retain city Police Commissioner Leonard D. Hamm,
despite criticism of the city's arrest policies, and that she would
continue O'Malley's CitiStat program of departmental accountability.
As interim mayor, Dixon will face such challenges as dealing with a
City Council that includes several potential candidates for the mayor's
office, and the reality that some of O'Malley's staff will follow him
to the State House.
She has also struggled with an ethics scandal that has led to an
investigation by the state prosecutor.
Dixon said yesterday that the probe would have no effect on her ability
to lead the city.
"I believe I can govern effectively," she said. "I have cooperated with
the state prosecutors; there has been no wrongdoing. And what my focus
is to keep the city moving as seamless as possible.
"I've seen a great deal of progress, and I hope we can build on that,"
she said.
Though Dixon, 52, has been a member of the council for 19 years, the
last seven as president, yesterday's announcement was an opportunity
for the West Baltimore native to put a fresh face on what has become
known as a tough-talking exterior.
The sometimes prickly Dixon sprinkled a few jokes into her remarks,
vowing with a smile that ascending to the position of mayor won't deter
her from her near-daily workouts.
And Dixon said she has matured since she joined the City Council as its
youngest member two decades ago.
"I have grown," she said. "I have tried to communicate better with
individuals and look at all sides before just jumping out and taking a
decision on a particular issue."
Hoffman, who spent 19 years in the state Senate, said a lot is riding
on the transition, not only for Dixon, but also for O'Malley.
"The mayor wants a good smooth transition, because it reflects on him
also," she said.
Hoffman said that Dixon's team would offer a head start at governing in
what is certain to be a tough job. "I think she'll do a good job," she
said. "I just don't think she's going to be handed anything on a silver
platter, nor should she. That's what elected office is about.
"But she gets a head start, and 12 months to show she can do the job
well. And goodness, you can't ask for more than that," she said.
kelly.brewington@baltsun.com
Copyright © 2006, The Baltimore Sun