City Council President Brandon Scott Announces Run For Mayor

Emphasizing the need for a "transformational leader," Baltimore City Council President Brandon M. Scott officially announced his run for mayor Friday.

"This city provided my family with the opportunity to raise me, my brothers, my cousins into the people we are today. But for too many of our friends, our classmates and our neighbors, this is not the case," Scott said. "Far too many of them are no longer with us. Far too many of them are struggling to survive. For them and too many Baltimoreans, violence, trauma and disinvestment is normal. This all adds up to one hard but clear truth. Our beloved Baltimore is hurting and it is at its most critical crossroads in generations."

#Baltimore City Council President Brandon Scott is running for mayor - calling gun violence ‘a disease’ and is ‘willing to invest’ to ‘save our youth’ @wbalradio pic.twitter.com/70NyX629DU — Phil Yacuboski (@WBALPhil) September 13, 2019

Scott made his announcement on the street where he grew up in Park Heights, a neighborhood he said was home to the kinds of disparities he aims to fix.

"This disparity looks like vacant houses, high levels of violent crime, inadequate education, joblessness and trash," Scott said. "This is what drove me into public service, because I did not and do not believe Baltimore's government has worked well for the people of Park Heights or any other neighborhood for that matter in my lifetime."

Baltimore has seen rising levels of violent crime since the death of Freddie Gray and subsequent unrest in 2015. Scott called for not just fighting violent crime and poverty, but for addressing the root causes of Baltimore's ills, including through more funding for education and recreational centers.

"And at this pivotal moment, it could not be more clear: our city needs a transformation leader to lead us from the ashes of 2015 to the rebirth of a greater Baltimore," Scott said. "That leader must deliver a 21st-century education for Baltimore's youth, lasting peace for Baltimore's homeowners and seniors and a thriving economy for Baltimore's businesses and all Baltimoreans."

Hours before the announcement, Scott's campaign posted a video in which Scott talks about his upbringing and goals.

The filing deadline for the 2020 race is Jan. 24. The primary election is April 28. In heavily-Democratic Baltimore, city races are all but decided on that date.

Scott, 35, was elected council president in May by his fellow council members following the resignation of Mayor Catherine Pugh and the ascension of his predecessor, Bernard C. "Jack" Young, to mayor. He has made a number of ambitious proposals, including creating a city administrator position and allowing 16-year-old residents to vote in elections for city offices.

"I've heard the naysayers say that it's not my time and I should just wait," Scott said. "The truth is I can't wait. I can't wait because Baltimore can't wait. Baltimore needs a leader who is willing to risk it all for the city."

Prior to becoming council president, he had represented District 2 since 2011.

As council president, Scott passed ethics legislation requiring those seeking office to list all directorships they hold, not only those with entities that do business with the city. Through an LLC, Pugh took hundreds of thousands of dollars from the University of Maryland Medical System and others while sitting on the medical system's board.

This is not Scott's first attempt for higher office. He was the running mate of businessman Jim Shea in the 2018 gubernatorial primary. The ticket finished a distant third behind Rushern Baker III and nominee Ben Jealous.

Scott will be the second candidate to announce a run for mayor, after former prosecutor Thiru Vignarajah. Young, who earlier said he would run for his old job again rather than run for mayor, said in July he was "considering all options."