Carl Stokes

Frustrated by a new escalation of violence and lawlessness in Baltimore, City Councilman Lawrence A. Bell III yesterday criticized a series of high-profile drug raids as mostly "symbolic efforts" that have failed to slow the crime rate.Mr. Bell called a news conference at a West Baltimore corner that has become known for drug dealing to urge the Police Department to step up neighborhood patrols.The highly publicized raids in more than a dozen communities have targeted only small-time users and dealers -- not the ringleaders, he said.

Baltimore's recreation chief Bill Tyler is leaving city government to work in Montgomery County, city officials said Friday. Tyler, who earned $94,000 annually, was in charge of implementing Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's plan to consolidate recreation centers — closing and privatizing some — in an effort to cut costs while better focusing on the recreation centers that would remain open. Tyler's last day in Baltimore is Feb. 15. He will be the Southern Parks Division Chief of Montgomery Parks, officials said.

City-wide candidatesComptroller! Jacqueline McLeanMayorKurt L SchmokeCouncil PresidentMary Pat ClarkeCouncil Candidates1st DistrictJohn CainNicholas C.D"Adamo Jr.Perry Sfikas2nd DistrictAnthony J. AmbridgePaula Johnson BranchCarl Stokes3rd DistrictWilbur E Bill CunninghamMartin O'Malley` Elaine E. Urbanski4th DistrictLawrence BellSheila DixonAgnes Welch5th districtVera P. HallIris Reeves! Lawrence H. Rosen6th districtJoseph J DiBlasiTimothy D. MurphyMelvin L StukesQuestion A -- $8million bond for community development program.

Tipper Gore, if she had been at the Baltimore City Council meeting last night, would have been proud.The council overwhelmingly backed a bill to put pressure on local radio stations to quash offensive lyrics that demean women and glorify violence. Mrs. Gore, wife of Vice President Al Gore, has led a tireless crusade against explicit song lyrics.The bill, introduced by 2nd District Councilman Carl Stokes, calls for a task force to study ways to get radio stations to agree voluntarily not to play songs with suggestive lyrics.

Baltimore's mayoral candidates will appear tonight in the first of three televised campaign events.Maryland Public Television will present a question-and-answer session with the four best-known Democratic primary candidates. The show will be broadcast from 7 p.m. to 7: 30 p.m. on Channel 22.The program will be a warm-up for two-hour prime-time debates. WBAL-TV 11 will hold a debate Monday night. NAACP President Kweisi Mfume will be the host. WMAR-TV 2 will hold its debate Sept. 7, one week before the primary Sept.

LOIS WYSE, 80 Coined Smucker's catchphrase Advertising executive, author and columnist Lois Wyse, who coined the memorable catchphrase "With a name like Smucker's, it has to be good," died Friday in New York after a long struggle with stomach cancer, her family said. During her lengthy career in advertising, Ms. Wyse raised the glass ceiling for other working women while counseling clients from American Express Co. to Revlon Inc. to one-time Cleveland Mayor Carl Stokes. She created the advertising slogan that propelled Smucker's from a small Orrville, Ohio, jam and jelly business into an international brand.

The four Democratic candidates for City Council president vied last night for a neighborhood political organization's endorsement during the first public forum to focus on this year's most contentious race. "We are potentially looking at the next mayor of Baltimore," said former state Sen. Julian L. "Jack" Lapides, president of the Mount Royal Democratic Club. The club unanimously endorsed Mayor Martin O'Malley before hearing speeches from council president candidates. The Sept. 9 Democratic primary for council president has taken on added importance because whoever wins could possibly ascend to mayor if O'Malley -- as conjectured -- pursues and wins another elective office.

Everyone has long suspected that Gov. William Donald Schaefer will not go quietly.Yesterday, at the end of his last General Assembly session, he set Baltimore's City Hall abuzz with a remark to a television station. Asked if he planned to run for mayor, Mr. Schaefer said no -- but he would not rule out City Council president."I think the president of City Council, I wouldn't mind that job," Mr. Schaefer, who served as council president from 1967 to 1971 and later as mayor, told WBAL-TV.Council President Mary Pat Clarke, who plans to challengeMayor Kurt L. Schmoke next year, later quipped, "He did it well when he did it. Of course, now that a woman has had the job, the standards are even higher."

The City Council has approved the appointments of two top administrators of the Urban Service Agency, but not before Councilman Anthony J. Ambridge, chairman of the Executive Appointments Committee, strongly criticized the agency for curtailing services to the city's poor.Ambridge, D-2nd, said yesterday he had "reluctantly" submitted the appointments of Lloyd Mitchner as director of the agency and J. Wayman Henry Jr. as associate director.Mitchner had been acting director since July 1989.

THE TEAMS Defensive Player of the Year: Brady Smith, Loyola First-team defense Name School Class Position Melvin Alaeze Randallstown Junior Lineman Ryan Burns South Carroll Senior Lineman Jeremy Navarre Joppatowne Junior Lineman Billy Rueter Hereford Junior Lineman Justin Frederick Glenelg Senior Linebacker Tyler Moyer Broadneck Senior Linebacker Carl Stokes Aberdeen Senior Linebacker Larry Strickland Loyola Senior Linebacker Kevin Barnes Old...