Former Baltimore mayor Catherine E. Pugh may end up in prison on corruption charges. From the Washington Post:

Federal prosecutors laid out an array of new details from their investigation into former Baltimore mayor Catherine E. Pugh in documents filed Thursday as they argued she should receive nearly five years in prison for conspiracy and tax evasion. The 37-page sentencing memorandum, accompanied by financial records and copies of checks, for the first time pinpointed the number of “Healthy Holly” children’s books Pugh sold — and resold. It outlined her efforts to conceal her dealings, including lying to FBI agents who came to her house to seize her cellphone. It also raised further questions regarding the roles of Baltimore City Comptroller Joan Pratt, who co-owned a business with Pugh that prosecutors say was used to launder an illegal campaign contribution and which filed a false tax return, and of a major city contractor who wrote out a check to that business in addition to buying Pugh’s books… Prosecutors told the judge that Pugh knowingly sought to defraud purchasers of her “Healthy Holly” books, reap financial and political benefits, and pay little or no taxes. They accused her of compounding an array of problems already facing the city and of feigning an interest in addressing childhood obesity with the books on healthy lifestyles for kids.

If you actually believe that she’ll serve nearly five years in prison for her crimes, then you’re being naive. If she serves any time at all, it will be minimal. Perhaps she’ll even get reelected, as mayor, after she gets out – like Washington DC mayor Marion Barry.

You can be forgiven if you’re confusing her with the Baltimore mayor who infamously said, regarding the most recent Baltimore riots:

It’s a very delicate balancing act. Because while we try to make sure that they were protected from the cars and other things that were going on, we also gave those who wished to destroy space to do that as well.

That was actually Stephanie Rawlings-Blake – who is also black, and also female.

On that note, I would suggest that the voters of Baltimore take a break from any concerns they may have about Diversity, and instead focus on electing mayors who actually care about the city. Being black, or being female, shouldn’t be a qualification; being an upstanding citizen is more important.