{{short description|American mayor}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2011}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Sheila Dixon |image = File:Sheliadixon07 (1).jpg |caption = Dixon in 2007 |office = 49th [[List of mayors of Baltimore|Mayor of Baltimore]] |term_start = January 17, 2007 |term_end = February 4, 2010 |predecessor = [[Martin O'Malley]] |successor = [[Stephanie Rawlings-Blake]] |office1 = President of the [[Baltimore City Council]] |term_start1 = December 1999 |term_end1 = January 2007 |predecessor1 = Lawrence Bell<ref>{{cite web |title=Baltimore City Council Presidents, 1923-present |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/speccol/sc2600/sc2685/county/html/bc_council/council_pres.html |website=msa.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=March 28, 2020 |archive-date=November 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107020339/https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/speccol/sc2600/sc2685/county/html/bc_council/council_pres.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |successor1 = [[Stephanie Rawlings-Blake]] |office2 = Member of the [[Baltimore City Council]]<br>from the 4th District |term_start2 = December 1987 |term_end2 = December 1999 |predecessor2 = [[Kweisi Mfume]]<br>Michael Mitchell<ref name="Council">{{cite web |title=Baltimore City Council, 1923-present |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/speccol/sc2600/sc2685/county/html/bc_council/council_year.html |website=msa.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=March 28, 2020 |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316214519/https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/speccol/sc2600/sc2685/county/html/bc_council/council_year.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |successor2 = [[Catherine Pugh]]<ref name="Council" /> |birth_name = Sheila Ann Dixon |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|12|27}} |birth_place = [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]], U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] |spouse = |children = 2 |relatives = [[Juan Dixon]] (nephew) |education = [[Towson University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Johns Hopkins University]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]]) }} '''Sheila Ann Dixon''' (born December 27, 1953) is an American politician who served as the 49th mayor of [[Baltimore]], Maryland, after mayor [[Martin O'Malley]] was sworn in as governor on January 17, 2007. Dixon, then president of the [[Baltimore City Council]], served out the remaining year of her term and won the mayoral election in November 2007. Dixon was the first African-American woman to serve as president of the City Council, Baltimore's first female mayor, and Baltimore's third black mayor.
On January 9, 2009, Dixon was indicted by a grand jury on twelve felony and misdemeanor counts, including perjury, theft, and misconduct. The indictment alleged the personal use of gift cards, donated by two prominent Baltimore real estate developers, Patrick Turner and Ronald Lipscomb.<ref>{{Cite web |title=State of Maryland v. Sheila Ann Dixon |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc5300/sc5339/000113/012000/012811/unrestricted/20100688e-018.pdf |access-date=November 25, 2025 |website=Maryland State Archives}}</ref> In December 2009, the trial jury delivered a guilty verdict on one count of "fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary" and acquitted her on two counts of felony theft, and one count of misconduct in office.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-12-01 |title=Baltimore Mayor Guilty of Gift Card Theft - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/baltimore-mayor-guilty-of-gift-card-theft/ |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> As part of a plea agreement made in December 2009, Dixon received probation in exchange for stepping down as mayor. She was succeeded by then City Council president, [[Stephanie Rawlings-Blake]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wbaltv.com/news/politics/Ex-Baltimore-mayor-resolves-probation-violations/-/9379266/17692854/-/edwcrh/-/index.html|title=Ex-Baltimore mayor resolves probation violations|work=[[WBAL-TV]]|date=December 7, 2012|access-date=August 3, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209155746/http://www.wbaltv.com/news/politics/Ex-Baltimore-mayor-resolves-probation-violations/-/9379266/17692854/-/edwcrh/-/index.html|archive-date=February 9, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
Dixon has remained active in the Baltimore community and sought reelection for mayor in [[2016 Baltimore mayoral election|2016]]. She was defeated in the Democratic Primary by then State Senator [[Catherine Pugh]], who received 2,408 more votes than Dixon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2016 Election Results |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2016/results/primary/gen_results_2016_3_by_county_030.html |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=elections.maryland.gov}}</ref> Dixon challenged Pugh as a [[write-in candidate]] in the general election, but lost with 51,716 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2016 Election Results |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2016/results/general/gen_results_2016_4_by_county_030.html |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=elections.maryland.gov}}</ref> In the [[2020 Baltimore mayoral election]], she again sought the Democratic nomination, but narrowly lost to candidate [[Brandon Scott]].<ref name="Opilo">{{cite news|first2=Talia|last2=Richman|first1=Emily|last1=Opilo|title=Baltimore's Democratic voters nominate Scott for mayor in narrow primary victory over former officeholder Dixon|work=[[Baltimore Sun]]|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-ballot-count-20200609-x2tr7edwnzehjknerxccymoocy-story.html|date=June 9, 2020|access-date=June 10, 2020|archive-date=June 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624103911/https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-ballot-count-20200609-x2tr7edwnzehjknerxccymoocy-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 7, 2023, she announced a third election bid to return to the mayoralty in [[2024 Baltimore mayoral election|2024]], but was once again defeated by Mayor Scott in the 2024 Democratic primary. <ref>{{cite news |last1=Opilo |first1=Emily |title=Former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon to run again in 2024, apologizes again for crimes that forced her from office |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-ci-baltimore-mayor-sheila-dixon-running-20230907-mzrtzmp3qneffhuy2zm7j75lpm-story.html |access-date=September 7, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=September 7, 2023 |archive-date=September 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907102237/https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-ci-baltimore-mayor-sheila-dixon-running-20230907-mzrtzmp3qneffhuy2zm7j75lpm-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Early life and education== Dixon was born and was raised in the [[Ashburton, Baltimore|Ashburton neighborhood]] of West Baltimore.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Sulliivan|first=Joanna|date=22 May 2020|title=2020 Baltimore mayoral profiles: Sheila Dixon|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2020/05/22/mayoral-profiles-sheila-dixon.html|website=Baltimore Business Journal|access-date=September 4, 2020|archive-date=November 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112191739/https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2020/05/22/mayoral-profiles-sheila-dixon.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Her father, Phillip Dixon Sr., was a car salesman, and her mother, Winona Dixon, was a community activist.
Dixon attended the Baltimore City public schools and graduated from [[Northwestern Senior High School (Baltimore, Maryland)|Northwestern High School]].<ref name=":0" /> She earned a bachelor's degree from [[Towson University]] and a master's degree from [[Johns Hopkins University]].<ref name=":0" />
==Career== === Education and government === After graduating from college, Dixon worked as an elementary school teacher and adult education instructor with the [[Head Start Program|Head Start]] program.<ref>{{Cite web|title=In Baltimore Mayor's Race, Sheila Dixon Seeks Forgiveness and a Second Chance|url=https://www.governing.com/topics/elections/gov-sheila-dixon-baltimore-mayoral-race.html|access-date=2020-09-04|website=Governing|date=March 23, 2016|language=en|archive-date=July 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712135156/https://www.governing.com/topics/elections/gov-sheila-dixon-baltimore-mayoral-race.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She then worked for 17 years as an international trade specialist with the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Broadwater|first=Luke|date=15 May 2020|title=Sheila Dixon knows the pandemic could hurt her run for Baltimore mayor. Can she still win?|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/elections/bs-md-pol-dixon-campaign-profile-20200515-3i4mwew7qfapnmxu6god7jablu-story.html|access-date=2020-09-04|website=The Baltimore Sun|archive-date=August 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817202402/https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/elections/bs-md-pol-dixon-campaign-profile-20200515-3i4mwew7qfapnmxu6god7jablu-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 1986, Dixon was elected to the Baltimore City Democratic State Central Committee representing the 40th Legislative District.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=5 November 1995|title=General election|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-11-05-1995309068-story.html|access-date=2020-09-04|website=The Baltimore Sun|language=en-US|archive-date=June 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622233808/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-11-05-1995309068-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1987, she won a seat on the Baltimore City Council representing the 4th Council District, where she served twelve years.<ref name=":1" />
=== Shoe comment === In 1991, Dixon waved her shoe at white colleagues on the [[Baltimore City Council]] and yelled, "You've been running things for the last 20 years. Now the shoe is on the other foot."<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.washingtoninformer.com/NATBaltimoreMayer2007May3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123064100/http://www.washingtoninformer.com/NATBaltimoreMayer2007May3.html |url-status=dead |title=Dixon Impresses Early On, But Questions Remain |newspaper=[[The Washington Informer]] |archive-date=January 23, 2009 |date=May 3, 2007 |first=Jonathan N. |last=Crawford |agency=[[Capital News Service (Maryland)|Capital News Service]]}}</ref> This incident led many people, including some of her supporters, to view her as a divisive person.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=2587 |title=Campaign Beat: GOP's Campbell Takes on Sheila Dixon and the Status Quo |date=October 13, 1999 |newspaper=[[Baltimore City Paper|City Paper]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123094000/http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=2587 |archive-date=January 23, 2009 |first=Michael |last=Anft}}</ref>
Dixon explained her earlier comment by stating that she had "matured" since making the shoe comment and that she now attempts "to communicate better with individuals".<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.newsline.umd.edu/politics/specialreports/elections06/mayordixon111006.htm |work=Maryland Newsline |title=Maryland Votes 2006 |agency=[[Capital News Service (Maryland)]] |first=Chris |last=Yakaitis |access-date=November 22, 2009 |archive-date=June 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604172616/http://www.newsline.umd.edu/politics/specialreports/elections06/mayordixon111006.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== City Council presidency === In 1999, Dixon was elected president of the Baltimore City Council, the first African-American woman elected to this position. In 2003, she won her re-election race for president of the Baltimore City Council, defeating her nearest competitor, [[Catherine Pugh]], by 21,000 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/baltimore/2003_primary.html#councilpres |title=2003 Baltimore City Primary Election Results |website=elections.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=December 12, 2019 |archive-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901231621/https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/baltimore/2003_primary.html#councilpres |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Mayor of Baltimore=== [[File:Mayor dixon at delegation meeting.jpg|thumb|left|Mayor Sheila Dixon addressing [[Baltimore City Delegation|Baltimore's state delegation]] on two Baltimore City gun related bills.]] As City Council President, Dixon was ex officio [[mayor pro tempore]], and ascended as mayor when [[Martin O'Malley]] resigned after being elected [[governor of Maryland]] in November 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/dixon-to-become-baltimores-first-female-mayor/article/54086 |title=Dixon to become Baltimore's first female mayor |work=Washington Examiner |author=Luke Broadwater |date=November 9, 2006 |access-date=April 30, 2015 |archive-date=January 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118062801/http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/dixon-to-become-baltimores-first-female-mayor/article/54086 |url-status=live }}</ref>
During her tenure, Baltimore's homicide rate dropped for the first time in the 30 years.<ref>{{cite web| title=Mayor Reduces Murder Rate| url=http://www.wbaltv.com/station/15574702/html| work=[[WBAL-TV]]| access-date=April 2, 2008}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 2007, Dixon introduced a crime plan that focused on more community policing and using police resources to target the most violent offenders. To combat crime, Dixon appointed Police Commissioner [[Frederick H. Bealefeld III]], who supported her neighborhood-crime strategy. In February 2008, the Baltimore City Police reported a sharp decline in homicides in Baltimore. According to police there were 14 murders in the city for the month of January, the lowest monthly total in 30 years.<ref>{{cite web | title=Murders Drop In City In January|work=[[WBAL (AM)]]|url=http://wbal.com/stories/templates/news.aspx?articleid=1541&zoneid=3|access-date=February 4, 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> As of April 2008, there had been a 40% reduction in murders in the city after experiencing a record high in 2007 during Dixon's first year in office.<ref>{{cite web| title=Baltimore's Murder Rate| url=http://www.wbaltv.com/station/15574702/detail.html| work=[[WBAL-TV]]| access-date=April 2, 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218133510/http://www.wbaltv.com/station/15574702/detail.html| archive-date=February 18, 2012| df=mdy-all}}</ref> By April 15, 2008, the number of murders in the city had grown to 54,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=15593 |title=Murder Ink |last=Ditkoff |first=Anna |date=April 16, 2008 |newspaper=[[Baltimore City Paper|City Paper]] |access-date=April 17, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422192139/http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=15593 |archive-date=April 22, 2008}}</ref> the lowest total to this time of the year in recent memory, putting the city on pace for 189 murders in 2008. By the end of 2008, the murder count was 234—a 17% reduction over the previous year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://essentials.baltimoresun.com/micro_sun/homicides|title=Baltimore Homicides|access-date=July 10, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706074734/http://essentials.baltimoresun.com/micro_sun/homicides/|archive-date=July 6, 2009|df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[Image:Sarbanes and Dixon cutting ribbon at 2007 Baltimore Greek Independence Day Parade.jpg|thumb|right|Dixon (front, third from left) cuts the parade ribbon at the 2007 Baltimore Greek Independence Day Parade with Congressman [[John Sarbanes]].]] While her critics complained that crime had risen in Baltimore during her tenure and that she did not pay enough attention to the issue, her record shows that she had increased police patrols,<ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-crime0531,0,5314460.story?coll=bal-local-headlines Topic Galleries – baltimoresun.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> cracked down on the possession of illegal guns,<ref>{{cite news | author=Melody Simmons | title=Baltimore Mayor Unveils Strategy to Attack Increase in Gun Crime | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/03/us/03baltimore.html?ex=1181361600&en=1d2775536ab9d1a9&ei=5070 | work=The New York Times | date=May 3, 2007 | access-date=January 1, 2008 | archive-date=September 7, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907102751/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/03/us/03baltimore.html?ex=1181361600&en=1d2775536ab9d1a9&ei=5070 | url-status=live }}</ref> and actively secured federal and state funds for crime-fighting programs.<ref name="autogenerated1" />
Several city developments were completed during Dixon's tenure such as Baltimore's [[Inner Harbor East]] community, the [[Legg Mason Tower]], and the Baltimore [[Hilton Worldwide|Hilton]] Hotel.
As mayor, Dixon was a member of the [[Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/about/members.shtml |title=Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070305101730/http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/about/members.shtml |archive-date=2007-03-05}}</ref>
===2007 mayoral election=== Dixon ran for a full term as mayor in the [[Baltimore mayoral election, 2007|2007 election]] and won the Democratic Party primary in September.<ref>[http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-md.ci.money31aug31,0,578648.story Topic Galleries – baltimoresun.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Dixon maintained a strong fundraising advantage throughout the campaign. Scores of public officials, unions and newspapers endorsed the mayor’s campaign. This includes ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]'', ''[[The Baltimore Afro-American]]'', the [[AFL-CIO]], former Rep. [[Kweisi Mfume]], Minority Contractors Association, [[SEIU]], SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, [[Governor of Maryland|Gov]]. [[Martin O'Malley|O'Malley]], [[Comptroller of Maryland|Comptroller]] [[Peter Franchot]], [[Unite Here]], [[United Auto Workers]], and others.
A major issue during the primary mayoral campaign was crime. By mid-2007, homicides in Baltimore were on pace to surpass 300 for the year, the most since the early years of the [[Martin O'Malley|O'Malley]] administration. On June 19, Dixon presented her crime plan to 500 Baltimore police officers,<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite news |last1=Linskey |first1=Annie |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2007-06-20-0706200118-story.html |title=Dixon, police meet over crime plan |access-date=December 12, 2019 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |date=June 20, 2007 |archive-date=December 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212201246/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2007-06-20-0706200118-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> but Dixon was attacked by Mitchell and Carter for not doing enough.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dixon Tells Police Her Crime Plan; Critics Blast It |work=[[WBAL (AM)]] |date=June 20, 2007 |url=http://wbal.com/news/story.asp?articleid=59517 |access-date=February 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927231506/http://wbal.com/news/story.asp?articleid=59517 |archive-date=September 27, 2007}}</ref> Dixon's crime plan departed from that of previous Mayor [[Martin O'Malley]] in that it stressed community policing and focused on apprehending the most violent offenders as opposed to zero-tolerance approach. As of June 19, 2007, there were 146 homicides and 340 non-lethal shootings in the city.<ref name="autogenerated2" />
By the end of July 2007, Dixon's campaign had been endorsed by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council of the Maryland AFL-CIO collectively as well as several individual union endorsements. Maryland Comptroller [[Peter Franchot]] was the only statewide elected official to endorse Dixon until an August 13 rally in which Governor [[Martin O'Malley]] gave his endorsement. Former Congressman [[Kweisi Mfume]] also endorsed Dixon at the same event in front of Baltimore's City Hall.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wbaltv.com/article/o-malley-mfume-endorse-dixon-in-mayor-s-race/7055052 |title=O'Malley, Mfume Endorse Dixon In Mayor's Race |work=[[WBAL-TV]] |date=August 13, 2007 |access-date=December 12, 2019 |archive-date=December 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212200659/https://www.wbaltv.com/article/o-malley-mfume-endorse-dixon-in-mayor-s-race/7055052 |url-status=live }}</ref> State Delegates [[Tom Hucker]], [[Maggie McIntosh]], [[Curt Anderson]], [[Cheryl Glenn]], [[Melvin L. Stukes]], [[Talmadge Branch]], Senators [[Nathaniel J. McFadden]] and [[Catherine Pugh]] and Baltimore City Council members Robert Curran, [[Bernard C. Young|Bernard "Jack" Young]], Ed Reisinger, [[Stephanie Rawlings Blake]] and Agnes Welch endorsed Dixon and were at the rally as well.
====Results==== Dixon won the 2007 Baltimore Democratic Mayoral Primary over her closest opponent, [[Keiffer Mitchell Jr.]], with 63 percent of the total votes, virtually assuring her of a full term in the overwhelmingly Democratic city. Dixon then defeated Republican Elbert Henderson in the November general election, becoming the first woman elected as mayor of Baltimore.
The Democratic primary results were:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boe.baltimorecity.gov/sites/default/files/2007-%2520Primary%2520election%2520results.pdf#page=15 |title=Statement of Votes Cast; Baltimore City Primary Held September 11, 2007 |date=September 22, 2007 |publisher=Baltimore City Board of Elections |website=boe.baltimorecity.gov |access-date=December 12, 2019 |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420042024/https://boe.baltimorecity.gov/sites/default/files/2007-%2520Primary%2520election%2520results.pdf#page=15 |url-status=live }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em;" |- ! Candidate !! Votes !! % |-{{party shading/Democratic}} | Sheila Dixon ||54,381|| 63.1% |-{{party shading/Democratic}} | Keiffer Mitchell Jr.||20,376||23.7% |-{{party shading/Democratic}} | Andrey Bundley ||6,543||7.6% |-{{party shading/Democratic}} | Jill P. Carter ||2,372||2.8% |-{{party shading/Democratic}} | [[A. Robert Kaufman]] ||885||1.0% |-{{party shading/Democratic}} | Mike Schaefer ||762||0.9% |-{{party shading/Democratic}} | Frank Conaway ||533||0.6% |-{{party shading/Democratic}} | Phillip Brown ||273|| 0.3% |}
General election:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boe.baltimorecity.gov/sites/default/files/2007%2520GENERAL%2520election%2520results.pdf#page=10 |title=Statement of Votes Cast; Baltimore City General Held November 6, 2007 |date=November 18, 2007 |publisher=Baltimore City Board of Elections |website=boe.baltimorecity.gov |access-date=December 12, 2019 |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420050739/https://boe.baltimorecity.gov/sites/default/files/2007%2520GENERAL%2520election%2520results.pdf#page=10 |url-status=live }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em;" |- ! Candidate !! Votes !! % |-{{party shading/Democratic}} | Sheila Dixon ||36,726|| 87.7% |-{{party shading/Republican}} | Elbert Henderson||5,139||12.3% |}
In her first inaugural address as Mayor, Dixon alluded to what she considered people's wrong impression of her and stated, "I want you to know that I am much more than a newspaper headline or a sound bite on the evening news."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.baltimorecity.gov/mayor/speeches/Sheila_Dixon_INAUGURAL_ADDRESS_2007.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410072134/http://www.baltimorecity.gov/mayor/speeches/Sheila_Dixon_INAUGURAL_ADDRESS_2007.pdf |archive-date=April 10, 2008 |date=January 18, 2007 |title=Mayor Sheila Dixon's 2007 Inaugural Address}}</ref>
===Prosecution=== In 2008, investigators from the Office of the State Prosecutor executed a [[search warrant]] at Dixon's residence in southwest Baltimore. Around the same time, several subpoenas were issued to Dixon's aides. The investigation examined gifts, including several fur coats, as well as Dixon's spending habits. Two of Dixon's associates—campaign chair Dale Clark and Mildred Boyer, a businesswoman who had hired Dixon's sister—pleaded guilty in 2008 to tax charges and cooperated with prosecutors during their investigation into Dixon. The [[affidavit]] filed to support a search warrant on the company Doracon was published by ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]'' in June 2008; the affidavit stated that Dixon was being investigated for bribery.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fritze |first1=John |last2=Donovan |first2=Doug |title=Dixon gifts probed |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bal-te.md.ci.dixon24jun24-story.html |access-date=December 12, 2019 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=June 24, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929135500/https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bal-te.md.ci.dixon24jun24-story.html |archive-date=2019-09-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Affidavit in support of the application for a search and seizure warrant |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/media/acrobat/2008-06/40317745.pdf |access-date=December 12, 2019 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=June 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114201812/http://www.baltimoresun.com/media/acrobat/2008-06/40317745.pdf |archive-date=14 January 2009}}</ref>
On January 9, 2009, Dixon was indicted by a Baltimore grand jury on twelve counts: four counts of [[perjury]], two counts of [[Malfeasance in public office|misconduct]], three counts of [[theft]], and three counts of [[misappropriation of public money|fraudulent misappropriations]].<ref name="sun indict">{{cite news |url = http://breakingnews.baltimoresun.com/2009/01/09/mayor-dixon-indicted-by-grand-jury/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090118043051/http://breakingnews.baltimoresun.com/2009/01/09/mayor-dixon-indicted-by-grand-jury/ |url-status = dead |archive-date = January 18, 2009 |title = Mayor Sheila Dixon indicted |newspaper = The Baltimore Sun |date = January 9, 2009 |access-date = January 9, 2009 }}</ref>
====Fraud trial==== {{main|Sheila Dixon trial}}
In November 2009, Dixon was tried for three counts of [[felony theft]], three counts of misdemeanor [[embezzlement|embezzlement/misappropriation]], and a single count of [[Misconduct in a public office|misconduct of office]]. The trial began on November 10, 2009, with [[Arnold M. Weiner]] serving as lead counsel. During the trial, two counts (one theft charge and one embezzlement/misappropriation charge) were dropped when prosecutors declined to call a key witness. On December 1, 2009, after seven days of deliberations, the jury returned verdicts on four of the five remaining counts. Dixon was found not guilty of the two felony-theft charges, as well as not guilty of the one count of misconduct of office.
She was found guilty on one misdemeanor embezzlement charge relating to her use of over $600 worth of retail-store gift cards that were intended to be distributed to needy families. The jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision regarding the final charge of misdemeanor embezzlement.
====Resignation and probation==== On January 6, 2010, as part of a plea agreement reached with prosecutors, Dixon announced that she was resigning as mayor, effective February 4, 2010. Under the terms of the agreement, Dixon received [[probation before judgment]] (PBJ) in the recent case in which she had been found guilty, as well as in a perjury trial that had been scheduled for March 2010. Under the Criminal Procedure Article, sec. 6–220 of the [[Annotated Code of Maryland]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://michie.lexisnexis.com/maryland/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&cp|title=probation before judgment|publisher=Mitchie|access-date=January 8, 2010|archive-date=December 2, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091202125905/http://michie.lexisnexis.com/maryland/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&cp|url-status=dead}}</ref> a PBJ is not a conviction, thereby enabling her to keep her $83,000 pension.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wbal.com/apps/news/templates/story.aspx?articleid=43179&zoneid=46 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721053700/http://wbal.com/apps/news/templates/story.aspx?articleid=43179&zoneid=46 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 21, 2012 |title=In Spite Of Resignation, Dixon Can Run Again |last=Lang |first=Robert |date=January 7, 2010 |work=[[WBAL (AM)]] |access-date=January 8, 2010 }}</ref> Also, under Maryland law, a PBJ may be expunged from one's record once the probationary period is over.
Dixon was sentenced to four years of probation under the terms of the agreement. She also was required to donate $45,000 to the Bea Gaddy Foundation and to serve 500 hours of community service at Our Daily Bread. In addition, she agreed to sell gifts she received from developers, including a fur coat and electronics that she purchased with gift cards. Dixon agreed to not seek office anywhere in the state of Maryland, including Baltimore, during her probationary term and that she will not solicit or accept taxpayer money to pay her defense fees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wbaltv.com/politics/22147723/detail.html|title=Dixon Announces Resignation as Mayor of Baltimore|work=[[WBAL-TV]]|date=January 6, 2010|access-date=July 4, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218133609/http://www.wbaltv.com/politics/22147723/detail.html|archive-date=February 18, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
===2016 Mayoral election=== {{Main|2016 Baltimore mayoral election}} In 2015, Dixon made a second attempt at becoming mayor of Baltimore. She was the front-runner in the Democratic primary until early 2016,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sheila Dixon is early front-runner in Baltimore's mayoral race, new poll shows |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/education/bs-md-ci-poll-mayors-race-20151121-story.html |access-date=2022-05-25 |website=Baltimore Sun |date=November 21, 2015 |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525230223/https://www.baltimoresun.com/education/bs-md-ci-poll-mayors-race-20151121-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> when Congressman [[Elijah Cummings]] endorsed her leading opponent, [[Catherine Pugh]] in April 2016.<ref>{{cite news |title=Elijah Cummings endorses Catherine Pugh for Baltimore mayor |first=Yvonne |last=Wenger |date=12 Apr 2016 |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/2016-mayor-race/bs-md-ci-cummings-endorses-pugh-20160412-story.html |access-date=September 25, 2019 |archive-date=July 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729074937/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/2016-mayor-race/bs-md-ci-cummings-endorses-pugh-20160412-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Pugh won the Democratic primary with 37% of the vote, while Dixon received 35% of the vote.<ref>{{citation|first1=Luke|last1=Broadwater|first2=Yvonne|last2=Wenger|title=Catherine Pugh defeats Sheila Dixon in Democratic primary of Baltimore mayor's race|date=27 Apr 2016|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/2016-mayor-race/bs-md-ci-mayor-0427-20160425-story.html|access-date=September 25, 2019|archive-date=November 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116073536/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/2016-mayor-race/bs-md-ci-mayor-0427-20160425-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> {{Election box begin no change | title = Democratic primary results<ref name="Board of Elections">{{cite web|url=http://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2016/results/primary/gen_results_2016_3_by_county_030.html|title=Baltimore City- Mayor|date=May 9, 2016|work=Maryland Board of Elections|access-date=May 9, 2016|archive-date=May 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509163725/http://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2016/results/primary/gen_results_2016_3_by_county_030.html|url-status=live}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Catherine Pugh | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 48,665 | percentage = 36.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Sheila Dixon | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 46,219 | percentage = 34.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Elizabeth Embry | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 15,562 | percentage = 11.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = David Warnock | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 10,835 | percentage = 8.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Carl Stokes | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 4,620 | percentage = 3.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = DeRay Mckesson | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 3,445 | percentage = 2.6 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 133,009 | percentage= 100.00 }} {{Election box end}}
===2020 Mayoral election=== {{Main|2020 Baltimore mayoral election}} On December 14, 2019, Dixon announced she was running for mayor of Baltimore in the 2020 election.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Young |first1=Blair |title=Sheila Dixon enters Baltimore mayoral race |url=https://www.wbaltv.com/article/sheila-dixon-enters-name-into-baltimore-mayoral-race-2020/30229565 |access-date=December 16, 2019 |work=[[WBAL-TV]] |date=December 15, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=December 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215131135/https://www.wbaltv.com/article/sheila-dixon-enters-name-into-baltimore-mayoral-race-2020/30229565 |url-status=live }}</ref> After the first campaign finance reporting date in mid January of 2020, Dixon's campaign reported that it had raised roughly $100,000. Incumbent Mayor [[Jack Young (politician)|Jack Young]], also running for mayor, had $960,000 cash on hand during the same reporting period.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Opilo |first1=Emily |last2=Richman |first2=Talia |title=Baltimore mayoral candidates raise $2.3M, signaling expensive and bitter fight ahead for crowded field |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-campaign-finance-20200115-z4rsz6yrtfcrzpbels7kparwoa-story.html |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |date=January 16, 2020 |access-date=27 January 2020 |archive-date=June 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612153645/https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-campaign-finance-20200115-z4rsz6yrtfcrzpbels7kparwoa-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In the June 2, 2020 Democratic primary, she narrowly lost to [[Brandon Scott]].<ref name=Opilo />
===2024 Mayoral election=== {{Main|2024 Baltimore mayoral election}} In September 2023, Dixon announced that she would again run for mayor of Baltimore, setting up a rematch of the 2020 Democratic primary contest between Dixon and the now-incumbent mayor [[Brandon Scott]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Opilo |first=Emily |date=2023-09-07 |title=Former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon to run again in 2024, apologizes again for crimes that forced her from office |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2023/09/07/former-baltimore-mayor-sheila-dixon-to-run-again-in-2024-apologizes-again-for-crimes-that-forced-her-from-office/ |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}}</ref> On May 14, 2024 she again lost the democratic primary to Mayor Scott.
== Personal life == {{More citations needed section|date=November 2025}} Twice divorced, Dixon raised her two children, Jasmine and Joshua, as a single mom.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fritze|first1=John|date=January 19, 2007|title=Dixon takes oath|work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2007-01-19-0701190012-story.html|access-date=March 28, 2020|archive-date=March 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328171451/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2007-01-19-0701190012-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She is the aunt of professional basketball player [[Juan Dixon]], who led the University of Maryland to the 2002 NCAA championship, and Jermaine Dixon, who played guard for the [[Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball|University of Pittsburgh men's basketball team]].
An active member of Bethel A.M.E. Church and former church trustee, Dixon continues to serve as a member of the Stewardess Board. She serves on other boards, including the Institute of Human Virology, the Transplant Resource Center, the Urban Health Initiative, the Baltimore Public Markets Corporation, the Living Classrooms Foundation, and the [[Walters Art Museum]].
==See also== *[[List of first African-American mayors]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} *[http://www.citymayors.com/usa/baltimore.html CityMayors profile] *{{cite web |title=Sheila Dixon, Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/bcity/former/html/msa14499.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=March 28, 2020 |date=November 30, 2016}} *{{cite web |title=Sheila Dixon, MSA SC 3520-14499 |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/014400/014499/html/14499bio.html |website=Biographical Series |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=March 28, 2020 |date=February 4, 2010}} *{{C-SPAN|1027683}}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[Martin O'Malley]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[List of mayors of Baltimore|Mayor of Baltimore]]|years=2007–2010}} {{s-aft|after=[[Stephanie Rawlings-Blake]]}} {{s-end}}
{{BaltimoreMayors}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dixon, Sheila}} [[Category:1953 births]] [[Category:20th-century Methodists]] [[Category:21st-century mayors of places in Maryland]] [[Category:African-American mayors in Maryland]] [[Category:African-American Methodists]] [[Category:American female criminals]] [[Category:Johns Hopkins University alumni]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Maryland Democrats]] [[Category:Mayors of Baltimore]] [[Category:Northwestern High School (Baltimore) alumni]] [[Category:People of the African Methodist Episcopal church]] [[Category:Towson University alumni]] [[Category:Women in Maryland politics]] [[Category:Women mayors of places in Maryland]] [[Category:African-American city council members in Maryland]] [[Category:Maryland politicians convicted of crimes]] [[Category:African-American women mayors]] [[Category:Candidates in the 2024 United States elections]] [[Category:Women in Baltimore]]