Young Makes It Official: He’s Running

By The Associated Press and AFRO Staff

Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young has officially started campaigning to secure a full four-year term as the city’s top elected official.

On Oct. 26, Young tearfully told supporters gathered at the Ynot Lot in Station North, he was dedicating his campaign kickoff to the memory of the late U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings. Young also addressed perhaps the city’s most ubiquitous issues, crime and law enforcement.

“Together we will reduce recidivism through proven programs and focus on job growth,” Young said. “We’ll reduce gun crime and ensure our police department complies with our Constitution, and the consent decree. We’re going to reduce the overtime and reallocate the savings from law enforcement to human investment.”

The announcement affirmed what many political observers anticipated from the day Young ascended from his position as City Council President, to replace Mayor Catherine Pugh who resigned amid scandal.

Pugh formally stepped down as mayor in May in the wake of multiple investigations into the lucrative sales of her self-published children’s books. Young automatically replaced Pugh after serving as city council president.

He previously indicated he would not run to keep the job but changed his mind.

Young has said he wants to build a new courthouse, implement new career advancement training for city employees and address racial equity.

Democratic City Council President Brandon Scott and more than a dozen others have also said they’re running for mayor.

Young began his career in politics when he was elected to represent what was known as Baltimore City Council District 2 in East Baltimore in 1996. He has been aligned with the Eastside Democratic Organization originally founded by Clarence “Du” Burns, the legendary East Baltimore politician, who served as both city council president and mayor.

Young held the 2nd District council seat until 2003 when the district lines were redrawn, which transformed his district into District 12.

In Feb. 2010, Young was unanimously nominated Baltimore City Council President, when Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was elevated to Baltimore Mayor, after the resignation of former Mayor Sheila Dixon. 

Young assumed the mayor’s chair on an interim basis in April, after Pugh went on an indefinite leave of absence as she recovered from pneumonia.