Something amiss when a prosecutor endorses a lawbreaker

Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates is one of the city’s top law enforcement officials, so how then can he justify endorsing Sheila Dixon for mayor (“Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates to endorse Sheila Dixon for mayor,” April 8)? During her first term as mayor, she violated her fiduciary duty to the city and to its citizens. In 2009, she was found guilty of embezzling gift cards, which were donated to the city to be used for charity. She had used the cards for personal purchases rather than seeing that they were given to needy families as intended. She resigned in disgrace in 2010 as part of a plea deal.

Under Sheila Dixon’s plea deal, her conviction was to be expunged if she carried out certain requirements including serving probation, making a donation to charity and doing community service She was also prohibited from running for office for two years. When she did run again in 2016 and 2020, she was defeated. I am a strong believer in second chances, and it seems to me that Sheila Dixon has already had more than one “second” chance.

Ivan Bates’ endorsement seems based entirely on his notion that Dixon is a better “partner” for him and his office than Mayor Brandon Scott. But Bates has not indicated how he can support Dixon, a public official who has already disregarded the public’s trust in her. If he cannot improve his office’s relationship with the current mayor, then he should neither vote for nor endorse him. But to endorse a candidate who has previously shamed the office of mayor is unacceptable.