On the heels of Monday?s televised mayoral debate, the full slate of seven candidates gathered at the Enoch Pratt Free Library Tuesday evening before a packed house.
The two-hour debate focused on crime, transportation and economic development.
Mayor Sheila Dixon struck back at rival candidate Mike Schaefer after he labeled her “our queen for a day.”
“The queen will give the facts,” Dixon said as she proceeded to defend her record on economic development by noting the convention center hotel under construction.
But Mitchell warned that the $305 million facility paid for by city taxpayers is a ticking time bomb.
“If the hotel fails, all the things we talk about will fail,” he said.
Socialist candidate Bob Kaufman blasted both Mitchell and Dixon for not supporting his efforts to reduce auto insurance rates for residents by forming a city-run insurance fund.
“You?re either in the pocket of the insurance industry or unbelievably stupid,” he said to both.
Meanwhile, other mayoral contenders criticized Dixon for not being proactive on crime. State Del. Jill Carter spoke of her encounter with a young gang member during an overnight stay on a dangerous city corner.
“This young man had a sense of loyalty and leadership,” she said. “If only we could take the time to direct it the right way.”
Andrey Bundley said the city?s struggle to spread economic development beyond the boundaries of the Inner Harbor was neglected.
“Some of us have become too upper class or too middle class,” he said. “What we need is to haveclass.”
