Watch CBS News

Rawlings-Blake Starts First Full Term As Mayor

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is sworn in for her first full term in office after almost two years on the job.

Kai Jackson explains how the mayor is going to "grow Baltimore."

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake says she has big plans for Baltimore, yet even she acknowledges the goals she has won't be easy to achieve.

Rawlings-Blake was sworn into office as mayor by Circuit Court Clerk Frank Conaway. In her address to Baltimoreans, she outlined her agenda.

"We believe that Baltimore can grow again," she said.

The mayor says to grow Baltimore, she'd like to see 10,000 families move into the city in the next 10 years.

"Our number one goal in the next 10 years must be to grow Baltimore: strengthen our neighborhoods, create new jobs and attract new people," Rawlings-Blake said.

City leaders, supporters and citizens attended the mayor's inaugural party Tuesday night at the Hilton Hotel downtown.

"The mayor and I, we're gonna work together along with our comptroller, because if the city fails, we all fail," said City Council President Bernard "Jack" Young.

"I think it's very doable and I will work very hard with the mayor to make that possible," said City Comptroller Joan Pratt.

"I think she's right in talking about focusing on the basics: focus on keeping people safe, focus on public education," said Howard County Executive Ken Ulman.

A Johns Hopkins political science professor says Mayor Rawlings-Blake's victory margin was political capital.

"The mayor has an opportunity, particularly given the size of her margin, to really speak hard, speak long and hard about the issue of income inequality," said Dr. Lester Spence.

Rawlings-Blake served nearly two years of the term vacated by Sheila Dixon. Dixon was forced to step down amid a gift card scandal.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.