BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Democrat Brandon Scott, just elected Baltimore’s next and youngest-ever mayor, was back at work before the city’s spending board the morning after his victory.
Outgoing Mayor Jack Young offered him congratulations on the win.
Scott tells WJZ he has no time to celebrate.
Brandon Scott Declares Victory In Baltimore Mayoral Race
“There is no DPW director. There is no housing commissioner. There is no equity and civil rights director. There is no city administrator. All of these positions will have to be hired and we will be assessing everything else moving forward. Change is coming to Baltimore in many shapes and forms,” Scott told WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren Wednesday. “Baltimore needs a shakeup. We could not continue with the status quo. Citizens voted for change, and they are going to get it.“
#Baltimore elects the city’s youngest mayor ever; Brandon Scott declares victory. Here’s the report we filed this morning. #Election2020 @wjz pic.twitter.com/R2a7wcZvtz
— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) November 4, 2020
Scott already named a nine-person transition team that includes former Raven Torrey Smith and author Wes Moore. You can read more about them here.
Well wishes came in from Republican Governor Larry Hogan who personally called Scott and said he wants to meet with him soon.
Governor Hogan congratulated Brandon Scott on his victory as Baltimore’s next mayor. He’s looking forward to meeting with Scott about the city’s future. #Election2020 @wjz pic.twitter.com/S0liw6lpNE
— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) November 4, 2020
Scott said, despite party differences, the two can work together.
“I worked with his office on issues of public safety. We are not always going to agree. At the end of the day, I’m going to push him, and I hope he pushes me to make Baltimore a better place,“ Scott said.
On crime, he told WJZ: “I will no longer have to ask the mayor of Baltimore to develop a complete and comprehensive strategy dealing with gun violence in Baltimore City. I will demand it of my agency heads and make sure they propose and put together something that we can enact.”
The city approved almost $2.5 million Wednesday to settle 12 lawsuits related to the corrupt police Gun Trace Task Force.
Reforms in the police department and stopping violent crime are two major issues for the mayor-elect with more than 270 homicides reported in the city this year.
“We will have a mayor who has already been fighting for police reform for many years. We can do both at the same time. We can reform and change our police policies while also focusing on the violence that is destroying neighborhoods and families in Baltimore City every day.“
Scott, a Biden supporter, also urged patience as votes are counted nationwide in the presidential race. “We know we need every vote counted despite what the President of the United States thinks. Counting votes is not stealing an election, it is actually making sure that we follow the democratic process,“ Scott said.
Baltimore’s Mayor-elect Brandon Scott urges patience as we await results in the presidential election. “Counting votes is not stealing an election.” His new comments today ⬇️ @wjz #Election2020 pic.twitter.com/CjPW0eSvof
— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) November 4, 2020
Governor Hogan says “the world is watching and what happens in the coming days and weeks will define America for decades to come.” @wjz #Election2020 pic.twitter.com/lS2Vvl7Dsp
— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) November 4, 2020
Scott will be sworn in next month. Baltimore also has a new city council president, Nick Mosby, and a new comptroller, Bill Henry.
Voters also approved several measures that strengthen the city council and put checks on the mayor’s power. “Balance is a good thing,“ Scott said. “As mayor, I’m going to have to work with the council like no mayor has done before.“
Scott, 36, was first elected to the city council in 2011 representing Northeast Baltimore. He became city council president last year in the fallout after former Mayor Catherine Pugh resigned in a criminal self-dealing scandal. Scott also chaired the council’s public safety committee.
He grew up in Northwest Baltimore’s Park Heights neighborhood.
I wish him luck, it seems he understands the problems and has a good list of immediate priorities. He is a shining example of how someone from Baltimore who is not a child or wealth & privilege can grow up right & be the solution & not the problem.
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i think our city needs a person that can run the city. not a kid. Brandon Scott does not have much of a back ground for this position. Yes he been working in the office for a little but have done nothing. He have a little power now and will still do nothing. I dont believe him at all about what he is going to do. The system is so corrupt. We need trust, leadership,and much more. I no he can not do this for the city. Never trust the election board.