Mary-Ann Baldwin | |
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| 62ndMayor of Raleigh | |
| In office December 2, 2019 – December 2, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Nancy McFarlane |
| Succeeded by | Janet Cowell |
| Member of theRaleigh City Council from the at-large district | |
| In office December 2007 – December 2017 Serving with Russ Stephenson | |
| Preceded by | Joyce Kekas |
| Succeeded by | Nicole Stewart |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1956 or 1957 (age 68–69) Pawtucket, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Rhode Island (BA) |
| Website | Campaign website |
Mary-Ann Baldwin is an American marketing executive and politician from thestate ofNorth Carolina. A member of theDemocratic Party, she was themayor ofRaleigh, North Carolina, serving from 2019 to 2024, and previously served on theRaleigh City Council from 2007 to 2017.
Baldwin grew up inRhode Island and graduated from theUniversity of Rhode Island.[1] She is married to Jim Baldwin, her fifth husband, and she has two children, a daughter and son-in-law. She also has two step-children.[2]
Prior to political service, she worked in the marketing field, including working as marketing director for several firms and managing her own consulting firm, Baldwin Communications.[2]
She served on theRaleigh City Council for ten years, from 2007 through 2017 during the mayoral terms ofCharles Meeker andNancy McFarlane.[3] While on the city council, she served as chair of the Law & Public Safety Committee and the Transportation Committee, and served on several other committees, as well as acting as the city's representative toGoTriangle, a regional transportation authority.[2] When Meeker decided to step down prior to the 2011 election, he approached both Baldwin and McFarlane to run for mayor in his stead, Baldwin however declined the offer to run, as she was dealing with personal issues, she felt would interfere with her ability to effectively campaign and serve in the role as mayor.[4]
On March 27, 2019, Baldwin announced that she would be running for mayor of Raleigh in the2019 election to succeed McFarlane, who was stepping down as mayor in the midst of health troubles.[5] Baldwin came in first place, winning 38% of the vote.[6] A runoff was not requested by Charles Francis, the runner-up, and so Baldwin became mayor of Raleigh.[7] She assumed office December 2, 2019. Baldwin ran for reelection in 2022, defeating DaQuanta Copeland and Terrance Ruth.[8] On April 16, 2024, Baldwin announced that she would not seek reelection.[9]
Baldwin was mayor while theCOVID-19 pandemic impacted Raleigh. On June 17, 2020, she made a proclamation that mandated masks.[10][11] Baldwin made a second mask mandate on August 13, 2021, due to the rise in theDelta variant that she later terminated on February 18, 2022.[12][13] Mayor Baldwin tested positive for COVID-19 on April 18, 2022.[14]
Baldwin was mayor during theGeorge Floyd protests in Raleigh. In the midst of rioting she declared a citywide curfew.[15][16] Her response was criticized in the following weeks.[17]
On May 4, 2021, Raleigh City Council approved a tax increment grant (TIG) policy which Mayor Baldwin voted in favor of. Mayor Baldwin received campaign contributions from developer John Kane, who may benefit from the TIG.[18][19] The TIG policy allows the city of Raleigh to provide up to $5 million per year (2% of the annual budget) in tax rebates to private developers, effectively shielding them from increases in property taxes due to rising property values.[20] A month later on June 1, 2021, Raleigh City Council passed an annual budget that included an increase in property taxes generating an increased $7 million per year which was supported by Mayor Baldwin.[21]
Baldwin responded after the2022 Raleigh shootings killed five people, including a law enforcement employee.[22][how?]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Mayor of Raleigh 2019–2024 | Succeeded by |