Catherine Pugh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Catherine Pugh
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Pugh in 2017
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| 51st Mayor of Baltimore | |
| In office December 6, 2016 – May 2, 2019 On leave: April 2, 2019 – May 2, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Stephanie Rawlings-Blake |
| Succeeded by | Jack Young |
| Majority Leader of the Maryland Senate | |
| In office January 14, 2015 – December 6, 2016 |
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| Preceded by | James Robey |
| Succeeded by | Douglas J. J. Peters |
| Member of the Maryland Senate from the 40th district |
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| In office January 10, 2007 – December 6, 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Ralph M. Hughes |
| Succeeded by | Barbara A. Robinson |
| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 40th district |
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| In office June 16, 2005 – January 10, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Tony Fulton |
| Succeeded by | Shawn Z. Tarrant |
| Member of the Baltimore City Council from the 4th district |
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| In office January 2000 – December 7, 2004 |
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| Preceded by | Sheila Dixon |
| Succeeded by | Jack Young |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Catherine Elizabeth Crump
March 10, 1950 Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Phillip Pugh
(m. 1973; div. 1975) |
| Education | Morgan State University (BS, MBA) |
Catherine Elizabeth Pugh (born March 10, 1950) is an American former politician. She served as the 51st mayor of Baltimore, Maryland's largest city, from 2016 to 2019. She later resigned from her position due to issues related to her book sales.
Pugh started her political career in Maryland in 1999. She was elected to the Baltimore City Council. After that, she held positions in the Maryland House of Delegates and the Maryland Senate. She even served as the Majority Leader from 2015 to 2016. Pugh ran for mayor of Baltimore in 2016. She won the primary election against former mayor Sheila Dixon. Pugh then won the mayoral election on November 8, 2016, with 57% of the votes. She officially became mayor on December 6, 2016.
In 2019, questions arose about her book sales. Organizations bought many of Pugh's books, and some also had contracts with the city. On May 2, 2019, Pugh resigned as mayor because of these book-related issues.
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Early Life and Education
Catherine Pugh was born Catherine Crump on March 10, 1950. She was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania. She was the second of seven children born to James and Addie Crump. She grew up in Philadelphia with her siblings. She graduated from Overbrook High School in 1967.
Morgan State University
Pugh attended Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. She earned her first degree in 1973. In 1977, she received a higher degree, a Master of Business Administration, also from Morgan State University. She is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
Early Career
In 1977, Pugh began teaching Marketing and Business at Morgan State University. In 1988, she started her own public relations company, Pugh and Company. From the mid-1980s to the early 1990s, she worked as an editor for The Baltimore Sun. She was also a dean and director at Strayer Business College in Baltimore.
In 1994, she moved back to Philadelphia. She became a vice president at Brunson Communications. She also co-owned a local TV station, WGTW-TV. There, she hosted "Another View," a weekly show. This program discussed important issues in the Black community. It featured interviews with community leaders and public officials.
Political Career
Baltimore City Council
In 1999, Pugh was elected to the Baltimore City Council. She served on the council until 2004. In 2003, she ran for president of the council. She received 30% of the votes but lost to Sheila Dixon.
During her time on the city council, Pugh started a public art project. This project placed fish sculptures around the city. She also helped to create the Baltimore Marathon.
Maryland General Assembly
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In 2005, Governor Bob Ehrlich appointed Pugh to a vacant seat. This was in the Maryland House of Delegates for the 40th district. She served there from June 21, 2005, to January 10, 2007. Then, she won a seat in the State Senate for the same district. She served in the Senate from January 10, 2007, to December 6, 2016. She ran for Senate without opposition in 2010 and 2014.
While in the Senate, she was part of the Finance Committee. She also served as the State Senate Majority Leader. Pugh was the president of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators from 2015 to 2016. She also chaired the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. From 2005 to 2007, she led the Women's Caucus of Legislators in Maryland.
As Majority Leader, Pugh helped pass laws on cyber security. She also supported expanding telemedicine in the state. Pugh also worked to diversify the state's large pension fund. This fund manages money for state workers' retirement. She helped increase the amount of money managed by Black and other minority firms. She also passed a law allowing Baltimore City to offer property tax relief. This was for public safety officers who live and work in the city.
In 2011, while still a senator, Pugh and Fred Lazarus founded the Baltimore Design School. This was the first design school in Maryland for middle and high school students. Pugh first ran for mayor in 2011. However, she lost the primary election to Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.
2016 Baltimore Mayoral Campaign
In 2015, Pugh decided to run for mayor of Baltimore. She opened her campaign office in the city. At first, she was not seen as a top candidate compared to former mayor Sheila Dixon. However, in April 2016, Congressman Elijah Cummings supported her. This helped her campaign a lot.
Pugh won the Democratic primary election. She received 37% of the votes, while Dixon got 34%. The Democratic primary is usually the most important election in Baltimore. This is because there are many more Democrats than Republicans. So, Pugh was expected to win the general election easily. She won the November 8 general election with 57% of the votes. She became mayor on December 6, 2016.
Mayor of Baltimore
Pugh became Baltimore's 51st mayor, taking over from Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. As mayor, she had to deal with several important issues. One major focus was the United States Department of Justice investigation into the Baltimore Police Department. This investigation followed the death of Freddie Gray. In April 2017, a judge approved an agreement between Pugh and the U.S. Justice Department. This agreement aimed to improve the police department.
Other challenges for Pugh's administration included Baltimore's crime rates. She also worked on vacant housing and city development. Another issue was the cancellation of the Baltimore Red Line transit project. Instead, Governor Larry Hogan launched the BaltimoreLink bus system changes. Pugh had supported increasing Baltimore's minimum wage during her campaign. However, she decided not to sign a bill to increase it to $15 per hour. She explained that she was worried about businesses leaving the city. She also thought it might hurt small businesses.
In July 2017, Pugh and other city leaders announced a new rule. It set a mandatory one-year sentence for illegally having a gun in many parts of Baltimore. This was an effort to address the city's rising violence. The Baltimore city council later changed the rule. It would only apply if it was a person's second offense. Or, if the gun was linked to a crime that had already happened.
In August 2018, Pugh ordered the removal of the Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee Monument. This monument was in Wyman Park. She believed it was a "risk to public safety." In May 2018, Pugh created a $55 million fund. This fund was to help struggling city neighborhoods. It was paid for by leasing city-owned parking garages. This fund was called the Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund.
Personal Life
Pugh married Phillip in 1973, but they divorced two years later. She does not have any children. She lives in Baltimore's Ashburton neighborhood. This area is in the Forest Park part of Northwest Baltimore City.
Pugh enjoys running and staying fit. She has written a series of children's health books. These books are called Mind Garden: Where Thoughts Grow and Healthy Holly. They encourage exercise and healthy eating. She also started several community programs in Baltimore. One is the Fish Out of Water Project. This project promotes tourism in Baltimore City. It raises money for arts programs for local youth. Another program is the Need to Read Campaign. This program helps Baltimore residents improve their reading skills.
See also
