Pierre's candidacy offered the promise of bridging those divisions. The 44-year-old Annapolis native won over many with her diligent campaigning and enthusiasm. An ordained minister and former television producer who worked in the Clinton administration, she pledged to use her understanding of federal issues to benefit Annapolis.
But it was only after her unexpected primary win last month that critics and journalists begin examining her background, discovering tax liens, a home in foreclosure and other debts. Within the span of a few days, Pierre dropped out of the race, reversed that decision, then dropped out again.
Her second exit came at a news conference at an Annapolis hotel during which she took no questions but promised to return to public life some day.
Pierre has pledged to support the Democratic nominee, and on Wednesday, the Cohen campaign released a list of African-American leaders endorsing his candidacy, with Pierre headlining the announcement. Some black city leaders have expressed hope that she would campaign for him, but no plans have been announced. Pierre did not respond to a message seeking comment.
Dave Cordle, an alderman who is the Republican mayoral nominee, said he, too, is working for African-American votes. He cited his work on the board of the local Boys & Girls Club, and his command of a local Army Reserve unit that was 80 percent black, as assets.
"I've had African-American community support for a good long time," Cordle said. "I'm not going to make politically motivated promises."
Along Clay Street, in one of the city's historically black neighborhoods, residents had mixed reviews on Cohen.
While some credited him for visiting their neighborhood recently, some said they had never heard of the councilman and would stay home on election day.
N.T. Sharps II, working at the Community Laundromat, in a building his family has owned since 1968, said he had supported Cohen all along.
"Based on experience alone. Period," Sharps said, as he flipped through a stack of Cohen campaign pamphlets on his counter that a campaign worker had dropped off. "You do have some people that think it's unfair what happened with Zina Pierre, but there's other folks that realize that life goes on."
Tracie Johnson, a housekeeper and single mother to five children, said Pierre had excited her, but also let her down. But she would vote for Cohen.
