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Brandon Scott Announces He's Running For Baltimore Mayor

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Baltimore City Council President Brandon Scott announced he is running for mayor in Baltimore Friday.

Scott made the announcement Friday morning in Park Heights, the neighborhood where he grew up.

"Baltimore needs a mayor who understands all of Baltimore and does not cater to special interests but who is willing to invest in communities with the highest need and into initiatives that save our youth," he said Friday. "We need a mayor who will treat gun violence as a disease and throw the full force of government, not just the police, into addressing this epidemic."

On Thursday night, he released a video on Twitter, which tells his story of growing up in Baltimore.

"As I travel to Baltimore neighborhoods, I am constantly asked about the future of our city and who will help lead it to become a great American city. The people of Baltimore are proud and resilient, however, they're looking for transformational leaders to change the trajectory of the city we love," he tweeted along with a video.

Scott said he's going to focus on gun violence.

"If you want it to change, you're going to have to change it yourself," Scott said, quoting his mother.

He speaks about the friends he's lost.

To date, Council President Scott and Mayor Jack Young have stood shoulder to shoulder and in agreement on much of the challenges the city faces.

Young, who first said he wouldn't run for re-election, has left his options open.

"I'm focused on running the City of Baltimore and making sure I reduce crime and clean the city up," Young said. "When I'm ready to make the decision about running for mayor, I will make that decision."

With Young's candidacy still an unknown, Scott begins his campaign against eight other candidates in the 2020 Democratic Primary for Mayor.

There's still plenty of time for more people to throw their hats in the ring. The deadline to file is Tuesday, January 24.

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