City Councilman and mayoral candidate Keiffer Mitchell Jr. blasted the campaign of Mayor Sheila Dixon on Monday for employing Dixon?s sister.
“I think it sends a bad message,” Mitchell said before a news conference in East Baltimore to announce his economic plan for the city.
Recent finance reports revealed the Dixon campaign had paid Janice Dixon nearly $20,000 since January to manage sign placement. Mitchell said Janice?s employment by UTECH, a company embroiled in a scandal over city contracting that has led to state indictments, raised too many questions.
“It speaks to the fact we need to reform government,” Mitchell said.
But Dixon campaign spokesman Martha McKenna hit back, pointing to the internal dispute over questionable campaign spending that led to the resignation of Mitchell?s father, Dr. Keiffer Mitchell Sr., as campaign treasure.
“Keiffer has big problems; the $56,000 in missing campaign funds shows he does not have control of his own campaign,” she said. “He has not shown the leadership skills necessary to run a campaign, much less the city.”
The exchange of barbs comes just three weeks before city voters go to the polls to elect Baltimore?s next mayor on Sept. 11. Rival mayoral candidate Del. Jill Carter also weighed in on the controversy, criticizing both campaigns.
“Both candidates exercised poor judgment as it relates to family and finances, but the bigger issue is the perception of continued cronyism that pervades government and now each of the candidate?s campaigns,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mitchell said the thrust of his economic plan would be to help small businesses flourish outside the Inner Harbor.
“To spur growth, I propose a $10 million city fund to help deserving business get off the ground,” he said, standing outside of Northeast Market.
A cut in the property tax also is a priority, Mitchell said.
“Baltimore is the most taxed jurisdiction in Maryland,” he said.
But Dixon officials criticized Mitchell?s plan, arguing his promise to add 400 more police officers and raise officer salaries 15 percent conflicted with his new pledge to lower property taxes.
“It?s a whole lot easier to stand on a street corner and make promises than it is to actually deliver,” McKenna said.
