Stephanie Rawlings Blake
Encyclopedia
Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (born March 17, 1970) is an American politician and 57th Mayor of the City of Baltimore. She is Baltimore's second female mayor. Rawlings-Blake succeeded Sheila Dixon
as mayor of Baltimore when Dixon resigned due to a conviction for embezzlement
.
, and is the daughter of Nina Rawlings M.D. (pediatrician) and Howard "Pete" Rawlings. Her father was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates
.
in 1988. She graduated from Oberlin College
in Ohio in 1992 with a B.A. in Political Science
. She earned her Juris Doctor
from the University of Maryland Law School in 1995. She was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1996 and to the Federal Bar in 1997. She is also an alumna of the Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound
Center.
became mayor (after then-Mayor Martin O'Malley
became Governor of Maryland
). Rawlings-Blake was an attorney with the Baltimore Office of the Public Defender from 1998 to 2006.
Rawlings-Blake served on the Baltimore City Democratic State Central Committee from 1990 to 1998. In 1993, Rawlings-Blake served as the Annapolis lobbyist for the Young Democrats of Maryland. She currently serves on the board of directors for Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association, the Greater Northwest Community Coalition, the Living Classrooms Foundation, the Maryland Science Center
, the National Aquarium in Baltimore
, Park Heights Health Association, and the Parks and People Foundation. From 1998 to 2006, Rawlings-Blake was an attorney with the Baltimore Office of the Public Defender from 1998 to 2006. She is a member of the Federal Bar Association and the Maryland State Bar Association. Rawlings-Blake is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha
sorority, Epsilon Omega chapter and a former at-large member of the Alliance of Black Women Attorneys.
In a poll of likely Democratic voters released by the Baltimore Sun on July 17, 2007, Rawlings-Blake was in a virtual tie with Michael Sarbanes, son of former Senator Paul Sarbanes
. The poll had Sarbanes getting 27% of the respondents and Rawlings-Blake 26% with Councilman Kenneth N. Harris, Sr.
a distant third with 8%. The poll's margin of error was (+ or -)4%. She won the primary with 49% of the vote compared to 38 percent for Sarbanes. In heavily Democratic Baltimore, Rawlings-Blake defeated her only opponent, Green
candidate Maria Allwine, with 82 percent of the vote.
as mayor of Baltimore when Dixon resigned as a result of her conviction for embezzlement
. Under the Baltimore City Charter, the City Council President becomes mayor if the mayor dies or resigns from office.
Sheila Dixon
Sheila Ann Dixon served as the forty-eighth Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland. When former Mayor Martin O'Malley was sworn in as Governor on January 17, 2007, Dixon, a Democrat, became mayor and served out the remaining year of O'Malley's term. In November 2007, she was elected mayor...
as mayor of Baltimore when Dixon resigned due to a conviction for embezzlement
Sheila Dixon trial
The trial of Sheila Dixon, the former mayor of Baltimore, started on November 9, 2009. It is the first of two scheduled trials for Dixon on a variety of charges. The charges stem from alleged corruption on the part of the mayor involving gifts she allegedly received and gift cards she allegedly...
.
Background
Rawlings-Blake was born in BaltimoreBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, and is the daughter of Nina Rawlings M.D. (pediatrician) and Howard "Pete" Rawlings. Her father was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
.
Education
Rawlings-Blake graduated from Western High SchoolWestern High School (Baltimore, Maryland)
Western Senior High School is the oldest public all-girl high school in the United States. Part of the Baltimore City Public School System, Western was named a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2009.- History :...
in 1988. She graduated from Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
in Ohio in 1992 with a B.A. in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. She earned her Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Maryland Law School in 1995. She was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1996 and to the Federal Bar in 1997. She is also an alumna of the Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound
Outward Bound
Outward Bound is an international, non-profit, independent, outdoor educationorganization with approximately 40 schools around the world and 200,000 participants per year...
Center.
Career
In 1995, Rawlings-Blake became the youngest person ever elected to the Baltimore City Council. She became President of the Council on January 17, 2007, when then-City Council President Sheila DixonSheila Dixon
Sheila Ann Dixon served as the forty-eighth Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland. When former Mayor Martin O'Malley was sworn in as Governor on January 17, 2007, Dixon, a Democrat, became mayor and served out the remaining year of O'Malley's term. In November 2007, she was elected mayor...
became mayor (after then-Mayor Martin O'Malley
Martin O'Malley
Martin Joseph O'Malley is an American Democratic politician who is currently serving as the 61st Governor of Maryland. Previously, he served as the mayor of Baltimore from 1999 to 2007. He is currently the chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.-Early life, education and career:O'Malley...
became Governor of Maryland
Governor of Maryland
The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
). Rawlings-Blake was an attorney with the Baltimore Office of the Public Defender from 1998 to 2006.
Rawlings-Blake served on the Baltimore City Democratic State Central Committee from 1990 to 1998. In 1993, Rawlings-Blake served as the Annapolis lobbyist for the Young Democrats of Maryland. She currently serves on the board of directors for Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association, the Greater Northwest Community Coalition, the Living Classrooms Foundation, the Maryland Science Center
Maryland Science Center
The Maryland Science Center, located in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, opened to the public in 1976. It includes three levels of exhibits, a planetarium, and an observatory. It was one of the original structures that drove the revitalization of the Baltimore Inner Harbor from its industrial roots to a...
, the National Aquarium in Baltimore
National Aquarium in Baltimore
The National Aquarium, Baltimore is a public aquarium located at 501 E Pratt St. in the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore, Maryland, USA. It was constructed during Baltimore's urban renewal period and opened on August 8, 1981. The aquarium has an annual attendance of 1.5 million and a collection of...
, Park Heights Health Association, and the Parks and People Foundation. From 1998 to 2006, Rawlings-Blake was an attorney with the Baltimore Office of the Public Defender from 1998 to 2006. She is a member of the Federal Bar Association and the Maryland State Bar Association. Rawlings-Blake is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...
sorority, Epsilon Omega chapter and a former at-large member of the Alliance of Black Women Attorneys.
2007 elections
On June 14, 2007, Rawlings-Blake announced that she would seek a full, four-year term as council president. Her platform included improving education and reducing crime in the city.In a poll of likely Democratic voters released by the Baltimore Sun on July 17, 2007, Rawlings-Blake was in a virtual tie with Michael Sarbanes, son of former Senator Paul Sarbanes
Paul Sarbanes
Paul Spyros Sarbanes , a Democrat, is a former United States Senator who represented the state of Maryland. Sarbanes was the longest-serving senator in Maryland history, having served from 1977 until 2007. He did not seek re-election in 2006, when he was succeeded by fellow Democrat Ben Cardin...
. The poll had Sarbanes getting 27% of the respondents and Rawlings-Blake 26% with Councilman Kenneth N. Harris, Sr.
Ken Harris (politician)
Kenneth N. Harris, Sr. a member of the Democratic Party, was a candidate for Baltimore City Council President. He served on the city council since 1999, representing Baltimore's 4th Council District, until 2007...
a distant third with 8%. The poll's margin of error was (+ or -)4%. She won the primary with 49% of the vote compared to 38 percent for Sarbanes. In heavily Democratic Baltimore, Rawlings-Blake defeated her only opponent, Green
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
candidate Maria Allwine, with 82 percent of the vote.
Mayor of Baltimore
On February 4, 2010, Rawlings-Blake succeeded Sheila DixonSheila Dixon
Sheila Ann Dixon served as the forty-eighth Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland. When former Mayor Martin O'Malley was sworn in as Governor on January 17, 2007, Dixon, a Democrat, became mayor and served out the remaining year of O'Malley's term. In November 2007, she was elected mayor...
as mayor of Baltimore when Dixon resigned as a result of her conviction for embezzlement
Sheila Dixon trial
The trial of Sheila Dixon, the former mayor of Baltimore, started on November 9, 2009. It is the first of two scheduled trials for Dixon on a variety of charges. The charges stem from alleged corruption on the part of the mayor involving gifts she allegedly received and gift cards she allegedly...
. Under the Baltimore City Charter, the City Council President becomes mayor if the mayor dies or resigns from office.
2011 mayoral campaign
In the summer of 2011, several democratic candidates filed to run against Blake for mayor(See List below). The democratic primary was held on September 13, 2011 and Blake won with 52% of the vote. She faces token opposition in the November general election.Primary election results
These are the unofficial results for the 2011 Democratic primary, as reported on the city of Baltimore's election board Web site.| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Stephanie Rawlings-Blake | 38,102 | 52% |
| Catherine E. Pugh Catherine E. Pugh Catherine E. Pugh is an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. She is currently serving in her 2nd term in the Maryland State Senate, representing Maryland's District 40 in Baltimore City.-Background:... |
18,271 | |
| Otis Rolley | 9,210 | |
| Jody Landers | 5,026 | |
| Frank Conaway | 2,007 | |
| Lloyd "Wilton" Wilson | 233 |