Topic: Sheila Dixon

Sheila Ann Dixon (born December 27, 1953) is an American politician. She is the forty-eighth Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland. When former Mayor Martin O'Malley was sworn in as Governor on January 17, 2007, Dixon, a Democrat, became mayor and served out the remaining year of O'Malley's term. In November 2007, she was elected mayor by election. She is a former member of the Baltimore City Council, the first African-American female to serve as its president, and Baltimore's first female mayor. She is also Baltimore's third African-American mayor. Dixon endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president in 2008.

On January 9, 2009, Dixon was indicted on twelve counts, including perjury, theft, and misconduct. The charges stem partly from incidents in which she allegedly misappropriated gift cards intended for the poor. On December 1, 2009, the jury returned a "guilty" verdict on one misdemeanor count of fraudulent misappropriation. On January 6, 2010 Dixon announced her resignation as Mayor as part of a plea agreement, effective February 4, 2010. According to Article IV sec. 2 of the Baltimore City charter, she will be succeeded by the Baltimore City Council President, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

Dixon was born and was raised in the Ashburton neighborhood of West Baltimore. Her father, Phillip Dixon, Sr., was a car salesman, and her mother, Winona Dixon, was a community activist, active in her church, political causes, and member of local community groups. Dixon attended the Baltimore City public schools and is a graduate of Northwestern High School. She holds a bachelor's degree from Towson University and a master's degree from Johns Hopkins University.