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Baltimore Mayoral Candidates Speak Out After New Poll

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Whether the new poll showing former Mayor Sheila Dixon is a front-runner will affect the course of any given candidate's campaign is unclear.

Political reporter Pat Warren found similar foundations in several campaigns.

The Freddie Gray riots were a call for urgent care. This year has shown the job of mayor of Baltimore is not for the fainthearted.

"I sleep every night and I wake up every morning with ideas in what we need to do," said former Mayor Sheila Dixon.

"Soemone said to me once, `Why do you want to be mayor?' I said `Because I eat, drink and sleep the city,'" said candidate Catherine Pugh.

"My heart hurts because I think so much of our city," said Carl Stokes.

Dixon, Pugh and Stokes are ranking first second and third in the polls with a lot of uncovered territory in between. The pains of violence, riots, an accelerating homicide rate and powder kegs in housing in a city where many find themselves with limited resources is stirring new passion.

First term Councilman Nick Mosby is working to gain traction after polling 10% and newcomer Elizabeth Embry polls at seven percent.

"What I hear over and over again is the bloodshed and the violence and the crime must stop and we have to get the city working, which means putting people in jobs with good pay and strengthening our schools," she said.

The filing deadline to run for mayor is February 3.

The poll found 58% of likely voters polled think the city is headed in the wrong direction.

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