WASHINGTON—Statement of AFT Secretary-Treasurer Lorretta Johnson congratulating Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake on her historic selection as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
“As the first African-American woman and the first mayor from my hometown of Baltimore to be named president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the selection of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is historic and represents an important shift for the conference», she said.
“The mayor is a real fighter for working families. She believes that high-quality public education, first-rate public services, well-funded infrastructure and strong communities can create real change—as we’ve seen in recent weeks in Baltimore. She values collaboration over competition, knowing that a city only wins when all its people win», Johnson added.
“These are the qualities we look for in mayors across the country. We are looking forward to working with Mayor Rawlings-Blake to lift up these values through her new role”, she pointed out.
