Politics

Ivan Bates, the Democratic nominee for Baltimore state’s attorney, said on Monday that he was putting violent, repeat offenders on notice, declaring that “you will be held accountable, and you will go to jail.” Speaking to reporters at his campaign headquarters at the Hilltop Shopping Center in Woodmere, Bates said the role of the chief law enforcement officer is to keep everyone safe. He said there will be “certainty of consequences.”

After days of ballot-counting, winners were declared Monday in close contests for two Baltimore County Council seats, but the Democratic race for state’s attorney remained unsettled. County election workers continued tallying mail-in ballots for a fifth day after working through the weekend.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Monday asked the Maryland State Board of Education to advance a recommendation by the inspector general for education to conduct an independent investigation of alleged grade-changing practices in Baltimore City Public Schools. The governor wrote, in part: “Marylanders are demanding better outcomes and more accountability for the taxpayer dollars entrusted to the local school systems charged with providing a high-quality education for every single Maryland child — with no exceptions.

Baltimore voters get a say in November in determining who oversees the city’s inspector general, a watchdog against waste, fraud and abuse A proposed charter amendment that would change the composition of the board that oversees Baltimore’s inspector general was approved Monday by Baltimore City Council, assuring the measure will appear on ballots this fall.

Maryland Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger has tested positive for COVID-19, his office announced Monday. The Democrat who represents Maryland’s 2nd District tested positive for the virus on Sunday evening, according to a news release. The congressman’s symptoms are mild and he is working from home while isolating, his office said. He is fully vaccinated and has had a booster shot.

Ivan Bates, the Democratic nominee for Baltimore state’s attorney, pledged at a news conference Monday to prosecute gun cases more aggressively but also asked for patience as he prepares to take over the job of top prosecutor from two-term incumbent Marilyn Mosby. Bates, a 53-year-old criminal defense attorney, is favored to win the general election in November after his victory in the Democratic primary last week. There is no Republican candidate in the race, though Bates will face Roya Hanna, an independent candidate who originally filed to run as a Democrat.