Statement on the confirmation of Faith Leach as Baltimore City Administrator

On Thursday evening, the Rules and Legislative Oversight Committee (RLO) held a hearing to confirm Faith Leach for City Administrator, per the charter amendment that passed in 2020 to create the position. Her nomination was unfavorable 4-2.

I voted to support Faith Leach, as she has done so much for our city in the two short years she served as Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. She has always been responsive, and in her time since January as Acting City Administrator, she has demonstrated the ability to clear away backlog, take ideas from the ranks, and work with Councilmembers. My colleagues on the committee voted no because of questions they had about the City Administrator’s Office.

I was clear during the hearing, that if we have issues with the office, then let’s have that conversation elsewhere. Every jurisdiction has an office like the City Administrator, and many towns in Maryland have town managers. This is not uncommon. The voters voted for this position.

The RLO Chair has scheduled another hearing for Monday afternoon to reconsider this vote. I look forward to voting for her confirmation again.