BALTIMORE — Second District Councilman Brandon Scott is now the new Baltimore City Council President.
The council unanimously voted for Councilman Scott at Monday evening's City Council meeting.
“To the people of Baltimore, I never expected to be here but you have helped prepare this kid from Park Heights to be ready for the responsibility of this position. I do not take the honor of holding this important office lightly and you can rest assured that I will carry out my duties with the utmost integrity and respect for all. “We’ve had some dark days, however, the passion and hope of all of us working together, will continue to lift us into the light. We will never quit even in the face of tremendous pressure and seemingly insurmountable odds. I hope that you will continue to keep me and the city in prayer as we work towards better days,” said Scott.
With former City Council President Jack Young stepping into the role of Mayor following the resignation of Catherine Pugh, Scott and Sixth District Councilwoman, and Council Vice President, Sharon Green Middleton were vying to fill the legislative body’s only citywide post.
When WMAR-2 News Reporter Brian Kuebler talked with several city council members the afternoon prior to the vote, many confirmed that Scott has the sufficient votes to win the title. District 1 Councilman Zeke Cohen, District 3 Councilman Ryan Dorsey, District 4 Councilman Bill Henry, District 5 Councilman Isaac “Ytizy” Schleifer, District 9 Councilman John Bullock, District 11 Councilman Eric Costello, District 12 Councilman Robert Stokes Sr., and District 14 Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke, all told Kuebler they would vote in favor of Scott becoming the next City Council President. Including Scott, that would secure him nine votes. Eight are needed to capture a majority. Young said he was in favor of Middleton taking the post.
Now that Councilman Scott has been elected as City Council President, this will leave a vacancy in his district. According to the Baltimore City Charter, the new Council President will appoint a committee of 13-25 people to serve as a Nominating Committee. That committee will develop a recommendation of who should fill the vacancy and present that nominee to the City Council, who will then take a majority vote on the recommendation. This newly appointed official will represent that city council district until the end of the current term.
In other council news, long-time Councilwoman Clarke said she will not seek reelection in 2020, saying it is time for a new representative for her district.
The 2020 election may yield many surprises and new faces. Mayor Young has routinely said he will not seek the Mayor’s office in upcoming elections. Instead, he plans to run to recapture his seat as the Council President. Scott has been rumored to be planning a run for mayor in 2020, though he may try to keep his spot at the helm of the council.
