Election Day with a State’s Attorney Hopeful
Northwood Elementary was one stop out of many that Marilyn Mosby, state’s attorney hopeful, made today in a last effort to reach voters at the midterm election. Although the voting site wasn’t crowded, there was a steady flow of people through the school’s gym.
She said she made the rounds of Baltimore polling places on election day because she believed the race was still close to call.
" I went to the voting polls because you can’t take anything for granted," she said. "It’s about engaging constituents and letting them know there vote means everything to me."
The competitive nature of the race for Baltimore City state’s attorney was underscored by the number of campaign volunteers hanging around the polls.
A number of volunteers stood outside the polling place, their clothes adorned with the names of their candidates.
Dressed with red, white and blue T-shirts, Lindsey Harberman and Daysia Taylor, both 17, were among the volunteers.
Taylor said she wouldn’t choose politics as a career, but was not shy about voicing what needs to happen in order to fix Maryland. “If we don’t have all Democrats in the House we are not going to get anywhere,” she said.
“Most of the Democrats have shown me that they are ready for change and without them the world is going to be on the downfall.”
Taylor believes there is a lack of initiative from the community members. “I feel like everybody’s complaining, but everyone is a part of the problem because they are not voting.”
When Mosby arrived at the polling site she was all smiles. “Thank you for voting,” she said. Then she singled out a woman in the crowd who is 80 years old. The woman was born in Orangeburg, S.C. and raised on Baltimore’s westside.
“These kids nowadays need help. I’m glad you are here,” the older voter said to Mosby, who responded quickly, “I’m ready to get to work. I promise you we will get to our people before they get to the criminal justice system.”
Mosby said she is on the same page with the woman. " I was inspired to become a prosecutor because I wanted to reform the criminal justice system which affects many of you. When you consider the fact that one in three African American males can expect to go to prison. Six times more likely than whites, that's a problem," Mosby said.
Mosby said she is optimistic about winning. “I beat an incumbent who out-raised me four to one,” she said. “I’m not overly presumptuous, but I am cautiously optimistic.”
Mosby was inspired to run after her 17-year-old cousin was killed outside of her home. Her cousin was mistaken for a drug dealer. A suspect was arrested, but prosecutors struggled to build a case because witnesses were reluctant to violate the street code against snitching to authorities.
If elected prosecutor she plans to, “break down the barriers of distrust” between black people and the justice system.
If elected, Mosby said she will try to control repeat sex offenders. She also wants to launch crime-fighting partnerships with the schools, churches, communities, law enforcement and businesses so that every stakeholder in Baltimore feels a sense of responsibility.
“I’m not for the rich corporations,” she said. “I am for the people.”
