The Annapolis mayoral candidate whose spokesperson announced her withdrawal from the race Friday amid revelations of personal financial problems said Saturday that she is staying in the contest.
Zina C. Pierre won the Democratic nomination Tuesday, putting her on track to become Annapolis' first African-American mayor. Her campaign abruptly announced her withdrawal Friday amid questions about a foreclosed home, bounced checks, state liens for unpaid income taxes and other problems.
But less than 24 hours later, Pierre said she was staying in to "continue to fight for all residents, many of whom are calling, texting and e-mailing me with extraordinary support."
FOR THE RECORD - Recent articles have referred to Zina Pierre, who dropped out of the Annapolis mayor's race this week, as potentially the first black mayor of Annapolis. Pierre could have become the first elected black mayor. In 1981, Alderman John Chambers was acting mayor for several months. The Baltimore Sun regrets the errors.
It was a stunning turn of events in the capital city, where news of Pierre's financial troubles shocked political observers. While Democrats have publicly supported Pierre, others have privately grumbled at her apparent naivete in not realizing that her personal finances would become an issue. They also critiqued her vacillating during the fallout.
Pierre herself has yet to address the questions. She was not available for comment Friday or Saturday; she said in a statement she plans to hold a news conference Wednesday.
It was unclear what led to her apparent re-entry. A woman who identified herself as a new spokeswoman for Pierre said that the previous spokeswoman "said what she thought was the case at the time," in telling various media outlets, including The Baltimore Sun, that Pierre was withdrawing Friday evening.
"However, new information has surfaced," Wanda Stansbury, the new spokeswoman, said. "There has been a groundswell of supporters that have weighed in and want to see her as mayor. She has never officially withdrawn. It was a statement made to the press."
Pierre, 44, clinched the Democratic nomination for mayor in a six-way primary race Tuesday. The president and chief executive of a Washington-based lobbying firm, she worked as a special assistant to the president for intergovernmental affairs in the Bill Clinton administration.
Mayor Ellen O. Moyer, who cannot run for another term, said she spoke by telephone with Pierre on Saturday morning and gave her "motherly advice," though Moyer predicted that "it will be an uphill battle for her to win."
"My advice to her is this decision has to be your decision and you need to listen to the advice, of people you trust and work with," said Moyer, a Democrat.
