By Catherine Sanders and Jared Christensen
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writers
Former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon said she was not bitter about losing the Democratic primary for mayor Tuesday to state Sen. Catherine Pugh.
Speaking to a crowd of about 250 supporters at the Game Sports Bar and Grill in Baltimore City, Dixon reassured her supporters that although she will not be holding the title of mayor she still plans to remain active in the city.
“We put up a great fight out there,” said Dixon, who lost by only 3 percentage points. “You all have made a difference in this city, but now it’s time to open up a new chapter.”
When speaking about her campaign, Dixon said it has been a phenomenal opportunity to make a difference in Baltimore.
“We have to continue to build on what this campaign stood for,” Dixon said. “It stood for the love of the people of this city. It stood for pride, we have to continue to build on enhancing our communities.”
Dixon urged her supporters to continue to strive and remain active within the city.
“This is a great city,” Dixon said. “All of us have to be apart of it.”
Dixon said that she is at peace with the results, but she is far from being done.
Before the votes were finalized and Dixon took the stage to address her devoted crowd, many of her supporters were adamant that she was the best choice to represent Baltimore as their mayor.
“Sheila Dixon is a sincere person I can relate to,” Baltimore City resident Cynthia Foote said. “She is a hard worker that doesn’t just carry around the title of mayor and doesn’t do anything. She takes pride in her work.”
Supporters worked out their nerves through playing pool and partaking in the buffet, while many also reminisced about the various times that Dixon had personally impacted their lives.
“I support her because I’ve worked with her while also being from the same church,” Baltimore native Juan Christian said. “She has helped with the youth and places in Baltimore that needed to be rebuilt.”
Many of her supporters said they see Dixon as a person of the people who can empathize with regular residents and see issues from their perspective. In the eyes of her supporters, Dixon will always be the strong leader that holds the motto, “RECLAIM. REVIVE. REBUILD,” the motto that was on her campaign shirts.
Supporters said they will continue to follow any endeavors that she pursues with building Baltimore up to the city it has the potential of being.
“Once a mayor always the mayor,” Christian said.