baltimore mayoral election november city baltimore maryland elected new mayor 47th city history primary elections held determine nominees democratic_party republican_party september incumbent mayor democrat opted run reelection member won election succeed baltimore electorate overwhelmingly democratic won democratic primary election seen favorite republican nominee general election baltimore large african american population initially likely mayor african american preferred candidate local politicians opted run members city_council declared race local leaders quality declared candidates baltimore experienced high rates murder unemployment failing city school system declared candidacy focusing campaign zero tolerance approach crime received endorsements city african american leaders close race overtook bell win democratic nomination assured victory general election defeated republican candidate general election overwhelming majority background incumbent mayor baltimore serving term announced december run reelection following year time incumbent baltimore mayor run reelection african american mayor baltimore history racial politics long played role baltimore state maryland attempt prevent african americans voting laws political involved african american community leaders served mayor political leaders work african american community leaders baltimore registered voters african american registered democratic_party baltimore elected republican mayor baltimore experienced murders year fourth nation unemployment twice national average baltimore saw population decrease second biggest decrease time period united_states decrease led work force decreasing sixth city saw decreases heavy manufacturing percent distribution jobs percent retail positions percent banking jobs percent state maryland taken city failing school system upset african american politicians state senator called takeover racist members including president opposed handling baltimore high crime rate commissioner candidates democrats bell considered february runner mayoral race potential candidates included state attorney city member maryland state senate city leaders including member predecessor mayor feared potential candidates vision continue urban renewal took place hoped baltimore native president run previously served united_states house_of_representatives called race lose lived nearby maryland baltimore march leave short year residency requirement state legislature passed law shortening residency requirement year months signed law democratic governor april bell attempted legislation overturned city_council support considered raising salary mayor april position baltimore citizens including attempted draft race signed year contract considered leaving run decided remain organization announced candidacy december bell announced candidacy days passed running promising tackle crime improve public safety community leaders attempted draft race began declared candidates included activists stated race consider running opted getting race june poll conducted polling firm based maryland showed ahead bell stated interest running threw support commissioner robinson chose run initially supported bell candidacy bell urged endorse offered job city solicitor exchange support began distance bell appearing bell campaign announcement disagreements bills debated city_council bell supporters attempted convince run city_council president announced decision run mayor june major candidate race began campaign largely unknown outside republicans july real estate developer lawyer maryland announced intention run republican_party nomination joining neighborhood activists declared intentions run public school teacher run unsuccessfully city_council numerous occasions candidate republican nomination republican_party officials quickly began criticized democratic_party pointing democrats led baltimore decline campaign candidates ended running democratic primary runners considered bell endorsement race bell called zero tolerance crime felt policy biased minorities ran issue education member baltimore school board addition city council vowed reduce class sizes reverse trend citizens baltimore leaving city live nearby suburbs faced initial difficulties based race community leader stated entrance race created tension potential victory worst thing happen city tear city apart saw entrance race attempt split african american vote received endorsements prominent african american politicians august including fellow state delegate kenneth conway credited track record empowering black americans received endorsement african americans charged stabbing endorsement bell attempted portray heir apparent lawsuit revealed bell financial troubles included having car bell lost support stated voters choose look like began lose support charged lying having college degree discovered graduate maryland campaign literature stated revealed settled income tax bell supporters rallied outside offices challenging writing negative stories african american candidates giving better treatment campaign able recover support received endorsements baltimore american ministerial alliance bell led poll conducted early race declared candidacy late august bell slipped polls place tied bell began airing television commercials supporting campaigns early august begin air commercials september advertised radio seven candidates including met debate september debate focused crime making cases zero tolerance declared support results democratic primary democratic primary held september turnout high mayoral candidates expected voters half baltimore registered voters voted primary elections won primary election vote received african american vote bell split significant portion city black majority combined total victory rally called election victory diversity victory republican primary september republican primary received half votes cast finished second place general election despite odds faced general election promised campaign taking defeat pointed mayor new_jersey evidence republican elected heavily democratic city came baltimore campaign public housing called renovations vacant buildings drew criticism housing commissioner pointed expensive promised enforce provisions require banks invest poor neighborhoods proposed plan school drug test students drew opposition favored expanding pre school programs making summer school mandatory discussing problem hiv aids baltimore affects african americans promised continue city needle exchange program criticized zero tolerance policy suggesting lead increased police brutality minorities instead proposed continuing mayor community strategy opponents zero tolerance policy tried tie shooting african american car theft suspect conducted poll general election showed leading vote election day easily defeated general election receiving vote aftermath political career following election personnel decision retain director city economic development agency transition team policy drafts mid december ready compete state funds january participated john kennedy school government mid november beginning december named deputy filled cabinet finalized cabinet december session city councillor sworn mayor later day war memorial plaza near year office adopted statistics based crime tracking system called modeled system logged service database analysis washington_post wrote baltimore homicide rate remains high public school test scores low saved estimated million helped generate city budget surplus years tool won harvard_university innovations american government award system garnered interest washington crime officials united_kingdom considered run governor maryland election decided run reelected mayor baltimore announced candidacy governor election endorsed saying elected mayor term city inherited city rising crime failing schools economic prospects able reverse course areas washington_post criticized ing problems rampant crime rough schools baltimore said defeated incumbent governor november general election defeated election receiving million votes ineligible run gubernatorial election term limits publicly expressed interest presidential run multiple occasions press conference meeting stated laying framework presidential run depiction wire fictionalized version events election presented fourth seasons wire drama crime politics baltimore aired respectively saw connection character baltimore city councillor elected mayor election african american opponents introduced real life inspirations mayor hit wire responded instead creator denied character supposed acknowledge inspirations stated reflective composite drawing aspects local politicians covered worked reporter
Baltimore mayoral election, 1999