Baker Offers a State Center Pledge — and a Swipe at Franchot

Gubernatorial hopeful Rushern L. Baker III pledged on Tuesday to make the long-stalled redevelopment of the State Center complex in Baltimore a priority. His campaign also accused a leading rival — Comptroller Peter V.R. Franchot (D) — of withdrawing support for the project to curry favor with a Democratic donor and powerbroker who owns commercial property in the city. The Franchot campaign cited other concerns to support his decision.