Dixon Releases First Campaign Video

Former Mayor Sheila Dixon, who formally kicked off her bid to win office again with an ice-cream social fundraiser this weekend, released her first campaign video yesterday.

Sophisticated and well produced, Dixon calls Baltimore a tough but "loving city" in a voice-over. “Here’s the thing about Baltimore,” Dixon says early into the 93-second spot, obliquely referencing her past legal troubles. “When you get knocked down, somebody is there to help you back up. This is a city of second chances.”

Dixon, of course, was forced from office after taking gift cards donated to the poor. After a jury convicted her of misdemeanor embezzlement, she added a guilty plea in a perjury case and then, as part of a deal with prosecutors, resigned. Her 2010 departure led to then-City Council president Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's succession to the office.

Dixon announced her intention to run for the city's top office in July. City Councilman Carl Stokes and state Sen. Catherine E. Pugh both announced last week that they would be among the suddenly growing number of candidates (with more expected) entering the fray.

Rawlings-Blake announced Friday that she will not seek re-election, but will focus on governing Baltimore through the next 15 months as the city tries to stem the recent tide of violence and works through the six police officer trials related to the death of Freddie Gray in April.