Zina C. Pierre, the Annapolis mayoral candidate dogged by personal financial problems and questions about her residency, announced Wednesday for the second time in five days that she is quitting the race .
During a news conference, Pierre, a political consultant, attempted to explain her financial problems - including a house that went into foreclosure and several lawsuits from unpaid debts - by saying that she stretched herself too thin as an entrepreneur and a provider for family and friends. She did not take questions.
"Did I make mistakes as a young, fledgling small-business owner, starting my business with more than a dream, with a little bit of money? Yes, I did," said Pierre, 44. "Have I since tried to correct those mistakes, that many of you have seen in the reports? ... Yes, I made those mistakes."
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.
Pierre's announcement, which leaves city Democratic leaders with the task of choosing a replacement candidate, was met with protests from supporters who packed a downtown hotel ballroom for the late-afternoon news conference. "Don't quit, Zina!" one woman shouted. The crowd chanted, "Run, Zina, run!"
The city's Democratic Central Committee has scheduled a meeting for Friday evening to select a candidate.
Pierre, appearing both somber and confident, left room for another run.
"We will be back stronger," Pierre said. "We will be back wiser. ... For all the people, you will see me in the streets, you will see me in the public meetings at city council."
Tony Evans, a member of the central committee, commended Pierre.
"I think she went down with flags flying at full staff," Evans said moments after the news conference ended. "She didn't break. She said, 'I made mistakes.' But her spirit is not broken, and like any good politician, she kept the door open for the future."
Josh Cohen, the Anne Arundel County Council member who placed second in the primary with 115 fewer votes than Pierre, released a statement saying that he respected Pierre's decision. "This must be an incredibly difficult time for her personally."
Pierre's victory in a six-way Democratic primary Sept. 15 put her on track to become the city's first African-American mayor. Democratic voters in Annapolis outnumber Republicans by a 2-to-1 margin. The Democratic candidate will face Republican Dave Cordle, an alderman, and small-business owner Chris Fox, an independent.
