Disgraced yet adored ex-mayor waging write-in campaign

BALTIMORE (AP) — Sipping a tea latte in the window of a Baltimore mall, former Mayor Sheila Dixon, whose long political career was derailed by a fraud conviction, waved at a seemingly never-ending stream of admirers.

Born and bred in West Baltimore with no family ties to City Hall, she moved up the political ladder on her own, from City Council member to Council president, to the first woman to hold the highest office in the city.

Pugh claimed Dixon volunteers intimidated voters, and Dixon alleged that Pugh offered chicken boxes and rides to the polls in exchange for votes.

Dixon has launched a write-in campaign, even though no write-in candidate has ever won an election in the city's history, Baltimore elections chief Armstead Jones said.

Dixon said she has a core group of about 12 volunteers working to promote the campaign, which consists of passing out palm cards to constituents on the street and at events, sending mailers and phone banking.

After a precinct-level investigation of irregularities, the State Board of Elections found problems with about 1,600 provisional ballots and some precincts opening late, but concluded they weren't enough to change the outcome.