Fresh off a successful fundraising spree, Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young ended months of speculation Tuesday, saying he has decided to seek election to Baltimore’s top job.
The longtime East Baltimore Democrat previously swore off a run for mayor, but had a change of heart after settling into the job of running the city. He moved up from City Council president to replace Democratic Mayor Catherine Pugh this spring, first as ex officio mayor when Pugh went on leave and then on a permanent basis when she resigned amid scandal in May.
In an interview with The Baltimore Sun, Young, 65, laid out a vision for a full, four-year term in office, including building a new courthouse; implementing a new training program for city employees to advance in their careers; bolstering an office to help build strong families, and attempting to address equity among the races across the city.
Young said he has led the city through a number of challenges since he took over for Pugh on April 1, referring to, among other problems, a ransomware attack in May that disrupted the city’s computer systems. And, he said, he has confidence in Police Commissioner Michael Harrison’s crime plan. Even though homicides and shootings are up this year, crime is going down in targeted zones that are the focus of extra police resources, Young said.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Luke Broadwater over at the Baltimore Sun