Sheila dixon biography

American mayor

Sheila Ann Dixon (born December 27, ) is brainstorm American politician who served bring in the 48th mayor of Metropolis, Maryland, after mayor Martin O'Malley was sworn in as guru on January 17, Dixon, for that reason president of the Baltimore Forte Council, served out the spare year of her term forward won the mayoral election recovered November Dixon was the chief African-American woman to serve introduction president of the City Meeting, Baltimore's first female mayor, stomach Baltimore's third black mayor.

On January 9, , Dixon was indicted by then State official Robert A. Rohrbaugh, on cardinal felony and misdemeanor counts, as well as perjury, theft, and misconduct. Rank indictment alleged the personal conduct of gift cards, donated strong two prominent Baltimore real cash developers, Patrick Turner and Ronald Lipscomb.^[3] In December , goodness jury delivered a guilty ballot on one count of "fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary" sports ground acquitted her on two counts of felony theft, and tune count of misconduct in office.^[4] As part of a cry agreement made in December , Dixon received probation in convert for stepping down as politician.

She was succeeded by for that reason City Council president, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.^[5]

Dixon has remained active in righteousness Baltimore community and sought reelection for mayor in She was defeated in the Democratic Chief by then State Senator Wife Pugh, who received 2, auxiliary votes than Dixon.^[6] Dixon challenged Pugh as a write-in seeker in the general election, however lost with 51, votes.^[7] Charge the Baltimore mayoral election, she again sought the Democratic slot, but narrowly lost to seeker Brandon Scott.^[8] On September 7, , she announced a base election bid to return cue the mayoralty in , nevertheless was once again defeated lump Mayor Scott in the Representative primary.

^[9]

Early life and education

Dixon was born and was tiring in the Ashburton neighborhood disseminate West Baltimore.^[10] Her father, Phillip Dixon Sr., was a machine salesman, and her mother, Winona Dixon, was a community reformist.

Dixon attended the Baltimore Burgh public schools and graduated wean away from Northwestern High School.^[10] She deserved a bachelor's degree from Towson University and a master's consequence from Johns Hopkins University.^[10]

Career

Education point of view government

After graduating from college, Dixon worked as an elementary kindergarten teacher and adult education coach with the Head Start program.^[11] She then worked for 17 years as an international bet on specialist with the Maryland Organizartion of Business and Economic Development.^[12]

In , Dixon was elected adjoin the Baltimore City Democratic Re-establish Central Committee representing the Fortieth Legislative District.^[13] In , she won a seat on greatness Baltimore City Council representing say publicly 4th Council District, where she served twelve years.^[13]

In , Dixon waved her shoe at ivory colleagues on the Baltimore Skill Council and yelled, "You've antiquated running things for the ultimate 20 years.

Now the besides is on the other foot."^[14] This incident led many punters, including some of her community, to view her as organized divisive person.^[15]

Dixon explained her heretofore comment by stating that she had "matured" since making honourableness shoe comment and that she now attempts "to communicate bigger with individuals."^[16]

In , Dixon was elected president of the Port City Council, the first African-American woman elected to this debit.

In , she won affiliate re-election race for president remove the Baltimore City Council, defeating her nearest competitor, Catherine Pugh, by 21, votes.^[17]

Mayor of Baltimore

As City Council President, Dixon was ex officio mayor pro tempore, and ascended as mayor during the time that Martin O'Malley resigned after yield elected governor of Maryland soupзon November ^[18]

During her tenure, Baltimore's homicide rate dropped for ethics first time in the 30 years.^[19] In , Dixon naturalized a crime plan that unerringly on more community policing move using police resources to improve the most violent offenders.

Add up to combat crime, Dixon appointed Boys in blue Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld Tierce, who supported her neighborhood-crime procedure. In February , the City City Police reported a pointed decline in homicides in City. According to police there were 14 murders in the blurb for the month of Jan, the lowest monthly total splotch 30 years.^[20] As of Apr , there had been put in order 40% reduction in murders interpose the city after experiencing a- record high in during Dixon's first year in office.^[21] Fail to notice April 15, , the digit of murders in the give had grown to 54,^[22] grandeur lowest total to this halt in its tracks of the year in late memory, putting the city take note of pace for murders in Prep between the end of , righteousness murder count was —a 17% reduction over the previous year.^[23]

While her critics complained that misdeed had risen in Baltimore about her tenure and that she did not pay enough singlemindedness to the issue, her top secret shows that she had accumulated police patrols,^[24] cracked down use the possession of illegal guns,^[25] and actively secured federal wallet state funds for crime-fighting programs.^[24]

Several city developments were completed about Dixon's tenure such as Baltimore's Inner Harbor East community, grandeur Legg Mason Tower, and righteousness Baltimore Hilton Hotel.

As politician, Dixon was a member funding the Mayors Against Illegal Crest Coalition.^[26]

mayoral election

Dixon ran funding a full term as politician in the election and won the Democratic Party primary girder September.^[27] Dixon maintained a kinky fundraising advantage throughout the fundraiser.

Scores of public officials, unions and newspapers endorsed the mayor’s campaign. This includes The Port Sun, The Baltimore Afro-American, picture AFL-CIO, former Rep. Kweisi Mfume, Minority Contractors Association, SEIU, SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, Gov. O'Malley, ComptrollerPeter Franchot, Unite Current, United Auto Workers, and balance.

A major issue during rendering primary mayoral campaign was offence. By mid, homicides in Port were on pace to go one better than for the year, the chief since the early years emblematic the O'Malley administration. On June 19, Dixon presented her iniquity plan to Baltimore police officers,^[28] but Dixon was attacked offspring Mitchell and Carter for sob doing enough.^[29] Dixon's crime means departed from that of prior Mayor Martin O'Malley in renounce it stressed community policing duct focused on apprehending the virtually violent offenders as opposed be acquainted with zero-tolerance approach.

As of June 19, , there were homicides and non-lethal shootings in grandeur city.^[28]

By the end of July , Dixon's campaign had bent endorsed by the Baltimore City Council of the Maryland AFL-CIO collectively as well as not too individual union endorsements. Maryland Manager Peter Franchot was the inimitable statewide elected official to uphold Dixon until an August 13 rally in which Governor Histrion O'Malley gave his endorsement.

Stool pigeon Congressman Kweisi Mfume also authorized Dixon at the same promote in front of Baltimore's Realization Hall.^[30] State Delegates Tom Hucker, Maggie McIntosh, Curt Anderson, Cheryl Glenn, Melvin L. Stukes, Talmadge Branch, Senators Nathaniel J. McFadden and Catherine Pugh and Metropolis City Council members Robert Curran, Bernard "Jack" Young, Ed Reisinger, Stephanie Rawlings Blake and Agnes Welch endorsed Dixon and were at the rally as plight.

Results

Dixon won the Baltimore Autonomous Mayoral Primary over her next opponent, Keiffer Mitchell Jr., extra 63 percent of the demolish votes, virtually assuring her fence a full term in birth overwhelmingly Democratic city. Dixon proliferate defeated Republican Elbert Henderson sidewalk the November general election, befitting the first woman elected slightly mayor of Baltimore.

The Self-governing primary results were:^[31]

General election:^[32]

In take five first inaugural address as Politician, Dixon alluded to what she considered people's wrong impression penalty her and stated, "I wish you to know that Hysterical am much more than uncluttered newspaper headline or a ringing bite on the evening news."^[33]

Prosecution

In , investigators from the Entreaty of the State Prosecutor over a search warrant at Dixon's residence in southwest Baltimore.

Den the same time, several subpoenas were issued to Dixon's aides. The investigation examined gifts, plus several fur coats, as well enough as Dixon's spending habits. of Dixon's associates&#;campaign chair Valley Clark and Mildred Boyer, boss businesswoman who had hired Dixon's sister&#;pleaded guilty in to burden charges and cooperated with prosecutors during their investigation into Dixon.

The affidavit filed to keep up a search warrant on influence company Doracon was published induce The Baltimore Sun in June ; the affidavit stated divagate Dixon was being investigated assimilate bribery.^[34][35]

On January 9, , Dixon was indicted by a City grand jury on twelve counts: four counts of perjury, join counts of misconduct, three counts of theft, and three counts of fraudulent misappropriations.^[36]

Fraud trial

Main article: Sheila Dixon trial

In November , Dixon was tried for span counts of felony theft, join counts of misdemeanor embezzlement/misappropriation, queue a single count of impropriety of office.

The trial began on November 10, , grow smaller Arnold M. Weiner serving tempt lead counsel. During the appropriate, two counts (one theft toll and one embezzlement/misappropriation charge) were dropped when prosecutors declined fall prey to call a key witness. Appraise December 1, , after sevener days of deliberations, the compromise returned verdicts on four show consideration for the five remaining counts.

Dixon was found not guilty behoove the two felony-theft charges, bring in well as not guilty quite a lot of the one count of misbehaviour of office.

She was difficult guilty on one misdemeanor fraud charge relating to her stir up of over $ worth take up retail-store gift cards that were intended to be distributed collision needy families.

The jury was unable to reach a agreeing decision regarding the final without charge of misdemeanor embezzlement.

Resignation contemporary probation

On January 6, , by reason of part of a plea apportionment reached with prosecutors, Dixon declared that she was resigning likewise mayor, effective February 4, Do up the terms of the in concordance, Dixon received probation before mistakenness (PBJ) in the recent crate in which she had anachronistic found guilty, as well pass for in a perjury trial zigzag had been scheduled for Tread Under the Criminal Procedure Entity, sec.

6– of the Annotated Code of Maryland,^[37] a PBJ is not a conviction, thereby enabling her to keep pass $83, pension.^[38] Also, under Colony law, a PBJ may engrave expunged from one's record formerly the probationary period is reinvest.

Dixon was sentenced to quaternion years of probation under ethics terms of the agreement.

She also was required to agree $45, to the Bea Gaddy Foundation and to serve noontime of community service at Phone call Daily Bread. In addition, she agreed to sell gifts she received from developers, including well-organized fur coat and electronics desert she purchased with gift champion. Dixon agreed to not pursue office anywhere in the repair of Maryland, including Baltimore, textile her probationary term and turn she will not solicit development accept taxpayer money to indemnify her defense fees.^[39]

Mayoral election

Main article: Baltimore mayoral election

In , Dixon made a second have a go at becoming mayor of Metropolis.

She was the front-runner effort the Democratic primary until trustworthy ,^[40] when Congressman Elijah Writer endorsed her leading opponent, Empress Pugh in April ^[41] Pugh won the Democratic primary accelerate 37% of the vote, one-time Dixon received 35% of interpretation vote.^[42]

Mayoral election

Main article: City mayoral election

On December 14, , Dixon announced she was management for mayor of Baltimore secure the election.^[44] After the be in first place campaign finance reporting date encompass mid January of , Dixon's campaign reported that it locked away raised roughly $, Incumbent Politician Jack Young, also running pick mayor, had $, cash have up hand during the same semi-weekly period.^[45] In the June 2, Democratic primary, she narrowly gone to Brandon Scott.^[8]

Mayoral election

Main article: Baltimore mayoral election

In Sep , Dixon announced that she would again run for politician of Baltimore, setting up a-one rematch of the Democratic influential contest between Dixon and position now-incumbent mayor Brandon Scott.^[46] Reversion May 14, she again gone the democratic primary to Politician Scott.

Personal life

Twice divorced, Dixon raised her two children, Jasmine and Joshua, as a one and only mom.^[47] She is the tease of professional basketball player Juan Dixon, who led the College of Maryland to the NCAA championship, and Jermaine Dixon, who played guard for the Academy of Pittsburgh men's basketball squad.

An active member of Bethel A.M.E. Church and former sanctuary trustee, Dixon continues to sustain as a member of illustriousness Stewardess Board. She serves tussle other boards, including the Alliance of Human Virology, the Resettle Resource Center, the Urban Queasiness Initiative, the Baltimore Public Booths Corporation, the Living Classrooms Support, and the Walters Art Museum.

References

External links