In a unanimous vote, the Baltimore City Council elected veteran 12th District Councilman Bernard C. “Jack” Young as the city’s new council president Monday evening.
Nominated from the floor by colleague City Councilman James B. Kraft (D-1st), Young was the only council member to be considered for a vote among his 14 colleagues.
“Councilman Young is a man who is on the street,” Kraft said. “He knows his district, he knows the city.”
“When he has the opportunity to lead, he does.”
Following the vote Young was escorted from the City Council chambers by fellow members to be sworn in by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who vacated the office last Thursday to succeed Sheila Dixon when the latter pled guilty to perjury and resigned as mayor after taking a plea bargain to settle her conviction on misappropriation of gift cards intended for the poor.
The motion for a unanimous vote came from Young's only rival for the position, City Councilman William H. “Bill” Cole 4th (D-11th). Cole had received behind-the-scenes support from Gov. Martin O'Malley and his operatives, who were untimately unsuccessful in stemming the tide toward Young.
Young is a council veteran who has forged a reputation for being outspoken and unafraid to speak his mind.
“You are one of the hardest working council persons I know,” said City Councilwoman Helen Holton (D-8th).
“We are fortunate to have you become the next leader of this august body.”
From Staff Reports and City Council Cable Channel 25
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to sit in that chair,( is it the same chair?), would be very proud of you. I know
East Baltimore is.
Moving Forward:
Now, let's move to rename Sheep Hill, Clarence Du Burns Square. I mean who
is Mr Collington, anyway? Those of us who understand our history need
to start marking our turf.