6 Candidates Vie For Baltimore Democratic Nomination For Mayor

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Now that the filing deadline has passed, Baltimore's mayoral race is set...minus one popular pick who dropped out.

Pat Warren has more on what to expect in the coming weeks of the campaign.

Councilman Carl Stokes has dropped out but six candidates in the Democratic primary mean a lot of people for voters to vet.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake won an endorsement from the Baltimore City Council Wednesday.

"We don't always agree, you know, but it's like being in a family.  You might have disagreements, you might have squabbles, but at the end of the day, it's the love that binds you, and for us, it's the love of the city," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

Endorsement did not come from Councilman Carl Stokes who at the filing deadline decided to run for his council seat instead of mayor.  That leaves a clearer choice, in her own opinion, for State Senator Catherine Pugh.

"I think we have a lot of the same ideas," Pugh said.

Candidate Jody Landers is looking forward to forums and debate tables that include Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

"I think what's happened up to this point is the mayor has chosen not to participate and I think that's a mistake.  I think that shortchanges the voters.  I think the voters want to hear what  all the candidates have to say," Landers said.

That includes Otis Rolley, a former city planner and first to file in the race.

"The debates will show that the city has a clear choice for the first time in a long time.  They have a clear choice between more of the same or more for our neighborhoods; status quo or real leadership," Rolley said.

Mayor Rawlings-Blake says she's ready for open debates.

"But my focus isn't on sparring with the other candidates," she said.  "I'm intent on getting the message out to the voters."

The candidates for the Republican primary are Alfred Griffin and Vicki Ann Harding.