Mayor Sheila Dixon {thanks, The Baltimore Sun}

As I said in my previous post, last week was mostly about politics.

After seeing Speaker Pelosi speak Tuesday in Baltimore, I figured I’d had my fill of politics until last Friday’s presidential debate. But while I was sitting at the office Wednesday, someone (that someone being DCFabGirl) decided it was time for a G chat. The question: Are you going to any CBC (Congressional Black Caucus) events? (It’s friends like DCFabGirl who remind me to get my nonexistent networking and social life in order. Hey, what can I say? I’ve been busy with work.)

After a quick scramble, I had plans in order. The CBC’s annual Legislative Conference is a pretty big deal because of the workshops, the annual gala (featuring Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama) and (of course) the parties.

I was quickly reminded that all politics is local. After I heard Barbara Ciara , president of the National Association of Black Journalists, speak in a workshop Friday on youth violence, I met a Missouri state legislator whose name I can’t remember. She asked about the performance of Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon – who is more well-known outside Baltimore than I expected.

Maybe it’s because in this month’s issue of Essence, there’s a story on Dixon titled “Can She Save Baltimore? One woman leads the way to rescue a city in peril,” written by The Washington Post’s Michael Fletcher. The story makes mention of other African-American female leaders in the city, including City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, State’s Attorney Patricia Jessamy and Comptroller Joan Pratt. (Oh, and this month’s cover features Baltimore native and comedienne Mo’Nique. I haven’t read it yet, but I’ll let you know what it says if you want.)

At the CBC gala, I was busy trying to make sure I got a seat to a) see who all would be there, b) hear Sen. Obama speak and c) hear the performance of the one and only Patti LaBelle. And let me tell you, this was one of those times where I was thankful a) I live in Bmore just up 95 from the nation’s capital, b) that there’s MARC (on weekdays) and Amtrak (only when the prices are reasonable) and c) for those friends who are clued in and remind you of where you need to be.

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