Sean Yoes
I don’t know if there has ever been a year quite like 2015 in the history of Baltimore. I can’t remember a more relentless combination of murder, misery and mayhem (at least not in my lifetime), with the heartbreaking apex coming during the uprising in April.
Yet, the murder of 24-year old Kendal Fenwick, a father raising his three children in Park Heights, on November 9, seems like more than just another debilitating blow against the collective psyche of our neighborhoods. Somehow the murder of a young brother simply attempting to protect his family and his home against drug-dealing, home-grown terrorists seems more diabolical, even during a year of soul crushing violence and pathos. Sometimes telling these stories day in and day out gets to me in a very visceral way.
Still, I was feeling at least slightly encouraged on Nov. 14.
I moderated a forum for mayoral and city council candidates, at the Maryland Academy of Technology and Health Sciences (the old Lemmel Middle School), just around the corner from where I grew up in West Baltimore and less than a five minute drive from where Brother Fenwick was gunned down.
The two most well known of the participants were former Mayor Sheila Dixon and Senator Catherine Pugh; they both made their cases for the virtues of experienced leadership during one of the most tumultuous times in the city’s history.
However, several young men and one young woman vying for the mayor’s chair and the city council, displayed political mettle of varying degrees and compelling back stories, which opened the eyes of this somewhat grizzled political observer.
To be clear, the following statements do not serve as an endorsement by me or the AFRO of any of the candidates named and aren’t meant to disparage those who aren’t.
Calvin Young, the 27-year old Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and Harvard University grad, has amassed an impressive resume quickly, which includes a stint with the Obama White House’s National Economic Council. The rail thin northeast Baltimore native delivered his vision for the city with a confidence, which gave at least the appearance of political acumen.
Patrick Gutierrez, who this week officially became the 13th mayoral candidate tossed around several interesting ideas for remedying assorted ills, particularly the city’s injudicious fiscal management. The former employee of Bank of America also showed some fire when I informed him during the forum that his time with the microphone was running short. “I hear you bro,” was his retort. “But, I’m going for mine, I’m going for mine” he added emphatically.
Several of the candidates for Baltimore City Council, which has been beleaguered for decades, were just as impressive.
Zeke Cohen (1st District), a former middle school social studies teacher in West Baltimore, has been engaged in several social justice issues, (including lobbying for the Maryland Dream Act) and has shown impressive command of Baltimore politics.
Marques Dent (3rd District), a veteran of the Air Force, worked for the Pentagon in the support staff for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He’s founder of D.E.N.T. (Delivering Educational Needs Together), which offers educational services at several locations around the city.
In the 5th District, two young brothers, Christopher Ervin and Sharif Small made strong presentations during the forum. Ervin, who was formerly incarcerated, has been a national advocate for criminal justice reform. Small, a native of Park Heights, is a financial planning professional.
I suspect there is going to be a vigorous battle for the 8th District council seat between two more strong young brothers, Russell Neverdon and Kristerfer Burnett. Burnett, who has been a dynamic community organizer for several years, lives in Edmondson Village and was instrumental in bringing the Village Market to the Edmondson-Westside High School. Neverdon, another military veteran (Army National Guard), has been a successful defense attorney in the city. He has an insider’s insight into grimy underbelly of the criminal justice system and has strong ideas about law enforcement reform.
The only woman candidate for city council who participated in the forum was Jamie Frierson (9th District). She resided in Whitelock City for several years and has helped establish several non-profits in the city and is also president and CEO of an all-female mentoring program.
There’s a long time between now and April. But, to see young men and women — most of them men and women of color — engaging earnestly in the political process, potentially bringing their impressive talents to a city in desperate need of leadership, helped me to see the glass as half full in the midst of the madness.
Sean Yoes is a senior contributor for the AFRO and host and executive producer of First Edition, which airs Monday through Friday, 5-7 pm on WEAA 88.9
