Gov. Martin O?Malley?s camp hinted Tuesday that the Democrat might soon break his silence on Baltimore?s mayoralrace and officially endorse incumbent Sheila Dixon in the near future.
After attending several campaign events and making a financial contribution to City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake?s bid for her first full term, the governor made his expected endorsement official at a news conference Tuesday. But O?Malley, who campaigned with Dixon in the 2003 primary ? with him running for mayor, she for City Council president ? has avoided committing to her in this year?s Sept. 11 primary.
“I can?t say ? it will take away from an announcement,” O?Malley?s spokesman Rick Abbruzzese said Tuesday. “The governor has a strong record of partnering with Mayor Dixon.”
Dixon?s camp also declined to comment to avoid “ruining the suspense,” as put by spokeswoman Karen Miller.
On Tuesday, the governor turned his attention to the race for City Council president. He described Rawlings-Blake as a “calm” leader whose family ties have contributed to his own political success. Her father, the late Del. Howard Rawlings, boosted O?Malley?s mayoral campaign in 1999.
“She became so committed, she prevailed at getting her father to become committed as well and that was the turning point in our race,” O?Malley said at the event in Belvedere Square.
Rawlings-Blake touted her involvement in the redevelopment of the marketplace, located in the district of opponent and City Council member Kenneth Harris.
Harris, who was endorsed at the same spot last month by Baltimore City State?s Attorney Patricia Jessamy and U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, said he largely orchestrated the project.
“It?s not going to be about legacy,” Harris said. “I am running against opponents that have names that have been in the political arena for some time. But I have a far better record.”
