Local News

Dixon Gets Empathetic Ear During Radio Interview

BALTIMORE (WJZ) ― The corruption investigation surrounding Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon continues.

Mike Hellgren reports the state prosecutor is focusing on whether Mayor Dixon received gifts, including lavish trips and fur coats, from prominent developer Ron Lipscomb in exchange for voting on tax breaks for his company's developments when she was City Council president.

Now WJZ has obtained records from the city revealing this year, the mayor abstained from voting on anything related to Lipscomb.  In 2006, she abstained from votes relating to his company Doracon.

His name is not listed under her abstentions during the time of their personal relationship. She spoke about her votes Wednesday.

"There's a whole list of companies that I have been recusing myself from since I was under federal investigation," said Mayor Dixon.

After at times testy exchanges with reporters, the mayor was on the Ed Norris CBS Radio show where the two talked about the intense media scrutiny.

Norris: "It just used to drive me crazy because people would ask me the same questions, and it's like, you know."

Dixon: "Right, well that's the same thing with me, and today I kind of got off just a little bit. You're checking everything else, you know. The media knows as much about me as the prosecutor's office at this point."

Norris knows what the mayor is going through. The former head of the city and state police faced a very public investigation, indictment and conviction.

"I'd be fine, and then I'd get a phone call from someone else saying, 'You know what I just heard...' and it'd be another piece of bad information, and you just cave in," said Norris. "It's a very tough thing, and it's going to take a terrible emotional toll on this woman."

Under fire for her votes on tax breaks, the mayor highlighted the importance of being a watchdog for taxpayer dollars.

"People pay a lot of taxes in this city, and we are beholders of their tax dollars. You know, through property tax, etc., and we've got to make sure we step up and be more accountable," said Mayor Dixon.

Mayor Dixon is charged with no crime. Lipscomb maintains he never asked her for any business favors.

Dixon's relationship with Lipscomb came up when she was running for mayor where an ad supporting her opponent stated, "It helps if you went to the Bahamas with Dixon for her birthday like Ronald Lipscomb."

Mayor Dixon has sharply criticized embarrassing leaks in the investigation.

"It doesn't give me a fair opportunity to share, and there's a process that has to take place," said Mayor Dixon.

"She's being tried in the media, and I have a bulletin for the public. Leaking grand jury material is a much more serious crime than she's being accused of. Are we going to look into that as well?" said Norris.

Meanwhile, the state comptroller's office says it has complied with a subpoena for tax records, reportedly in connection with the state prosecutor's investigation.

The (Baltimore) Sun reports Comptroller Peter Franchot's office received the subpoena several weeks ago, but the office isn't saying what records were requested.

Pat Warren reports the entire investigation may be taking a toll on the city's image.

"I would love to have a timely resolution to this because this is really clouding a lot of good work that is going on," said Dixon.

There's no doubt in the minds of many that Mayor Dixon has had a positive impact on the city, which the mayor's staff and members of the General Assembly pointed out Wednesday.

"She's very well respected by members of the General Assembly," said Baltimore Delegate and attorney Curt Anderson.

Anderson supports the mayor's claim that information obtained by the media is putting her at a disadvantage.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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