Kurt Schmoke
Kurt Schmoke | |
---|---|
State's Attorney for Baltimore | |
In office 1983–1987 | |
Preceded by | William Swisher |
Succeeded by | Stuart O. Simms |
Personal details | |
Born | Kurt Lidell Schmoke December 1, 1949 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Patricia Locks |
Children | 2 |
Education | Yale University (BA) Balliol College, Oxford Harvard University (JD) |
Kurt Lidell Schmoke (born December 1, 1949) is an American politician and lawyer who was the 47th mayor of
Early life and education
Schmoke was born and raised in Baltimore to Murray Schmoke, a civilian chemist for the
Schmoke attended the
As a student, Schmoke was a member of the Baltimore City College "A-course", a college preparatory curriculum that required him to take Latin and other advanced studies not offered to the average Baltimore high school student. Schmoke was elected president of the school's student government in his senior year but also worked in the Baltimore community with disadvantaged youth. Compulsory community service had not yet been mandated for Baltimore high school students, yet he tutored and mentored young men from the inner city as a member of the Lancers Boys Club.[7]
Schmoke entered
Schmoke has been acknowledged as the undergraduate student leader who helped quell the possibility of riot on the Yale campus in the wake of the New Haven Black Panther trials in the spring of 1970. As New Haven filled with radical protesters, Yale students demanded the suspension of classes. A bitterly divided faculty met to discuss strategy, and invited a student leader to address the gathering. Schmoke, who was Secretary of the Class of 1971 and a leader of the Black Student Alliance at Yale, was selected to represent the students.[7] He spoke only a few sentences: "The students on this campus are confused, they're frightened. They don't know what to think. You are older than we are, and are more experienced. We want guidance from you, moral leadership. On behalf of my fellow students, I beg you to give it to us."[10] This moment is credited with helping to dispel the growing tensions: the university voted to bend its rules, making classes "voluntarily optional" to the end of the term, and despite small outbreaks of violence, no campus-wide unrest resulted.
After graduating from Yale with a degree in history in 1971,
Schmoke was selected with five other distinguished former collegiate
Career
After graduating from Harvard Law School, Schmoke joined the Baltimore law firm of
Elected office
In 1982, Schmoke ran for his first elected office. He challenged incumbent Baltimore City State's Attorney William A. Swisher in a citywide contest.[16] Schmoke ran an energetic, grassroots and race-neutral campaign and upset Swisher in a landslide.[17]
On November 3, 1987, he was
Schmoke initiated programs in housing, education, public health and economic development.[22]
In 1992, President George H. W. Bush awarded him the National Literacy Award for his efforts to promote adult literacy and, in 1994, President Bill Clinton cited Baltimore's programs to improve public housing and enhance community economic development and named Baltimore one of six cities to receive Empowerment Zone designation.[23] In 1995, Schmoke spoke at the Million Man March.[24] In 1997, Schmoke was a committee member for the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence.[25] After serving three terms as city mayor, Schmoke opted not to run for reelection in 1999.[26]
Advocacy of school choice and school vouchers
In 1999, Schmoke delivered some remarks on the subject of school choice and school vouchers at a
Life after politics
After leaving office in December 1999, Schmoke practiced law at the firm of
He also appeared in two 2004 episodes of the acclaimed HBO series This is a reference to his own feelings on the drug war.
In July 2008, Schmoke became the acting senior vice president for academic affairs at Howard University. Schmoke continued as dean of the Howard University School of Law.[8] He also taught election law as a seminar class every fall semester to third-year law students.
In January 2009, Schmoke was seen holding an umbrella for Illinois Senate designee Roland Burris during an outdoor press conference concerning Burris' seating controversy.[30] Schmoke was part of the legal team advising Burris during the controversy. Schmoke was appointed vice president and general counsel of Howard University in July 2012.[31] On May 14, 2014, the University of Baltimore announced that Schmoke would become its new president.[4][32] On September 8, 2017, President Schmoke made the decision to have Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos as the Fall 2017 commencement speaker.
In January 2024,
References
- ^ Clarence H. Burns, his predecessor, had become mayor automatically as City Council President on the resignation of William Donald Schaefer, but was not elected to a full term.
- ^ "Office of the President of the University of Baltimore". University of Baltimore. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Hall, Wiley (January 31, 1991). "ROOTING OUT THE MAYOR'S PAST Kurt Schmoke's family always emphasized the education of the children". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on June 21, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ a b Cassie, Ron (May 14, 2014). "Kurt Schmoke to Lead University of Baltimore". Baltimore. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- from the original on May 26, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2020.from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- Klingaman, Mike (December 9, 2001). "George Young, coach, NFL executive, dies at 71". The Baltimore Sun. Archived
- Schmerler, George (1966). The 1966 Green Bag. p. 88. - ^ a b Bruce Fellman (November 2000). "Powerful Persuader". Yale Alumni Magazine. Archived from the original on May 17, 2007.
- ^ a b c Hepkins, Andre (February 16, 2018). "Kurt Schmoke reflects on tenure fighting crime, promoting literacy". WBAL. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ Schmoke, Kurt L. "On the Calvin Hill Day Care Center". Archived from the original on January 13, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
- ^ Mayday at Yale: A Case Study in Student Radicalism, John Taft, Westview Press, 1976
- ^ Biographies Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Cassie, Ron (April 20, 2018). "Back to the Future". Baltimore. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Kurt L. Schmoke - Baltimore Sun". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ a b c "General election". The Baltimore Sun. November 5, 1995. Archived from the original on June 22, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ "Biographical Sketch of Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke". Baltimore City Government. Archived from the original on July 30, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
- ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ "Weaver's vision starts it all". Baltimore Sun. September 23, 1999. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2009.
- ^ Mccauley, Mary (September 11, 2015). "Life goes on for former Baltimore mayors". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 10, 2020.[dead link]
- ^ April 2018, Ron Cassie | (April 20, 2018). "Kurt Schmoke Openly Advocated for Decriminalization of Marijuana". Baltimore Magazine. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Banisky, Sandy; Birch, Doug (April 12, 1988). "Schmoke's Drug Idea Stirs Opposition". The Baltimore Sun. pp. 1–10. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
- ^ Fellman, Bruce. "Yale Alumni Magazine: Kurt Schmoke (Nov 2000)". archives.yalealumnimagazine.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
- ^ Alonzo Smith (October 27, 2007). "Kurt L. Schmoke (1949- )". BlackPast. Archived from the original on December 14, 2007. Retrieved January 25, 2009.
- ^ "Welcome to Empower Baltimore". Empower Baltimore Management Corporation. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
- ^ citation needed
- ^ "Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence". Selection Committees. Bruner Foundation. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ^ Janofsky, Michael (February 25, 1999). "Baltimore Leaders Sour on Entire Mayoral Field". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Why School Vouchers Can Help Inner-City Children". 1999. Archived from the original on June 27, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
I [...] believe that the Democratic Party should reevaluate its position on school choice issues. [...] Some say that school choice is elitist, or even racist. The truth is that black low-income children are among the prime victims of the nation's failing public schools. African-American parents know this all too well. This is why they have been so open to the idea of school choice.
- The Wire. Season 3. Episode 12. HBO.from the original on August 27, 2006. Retrieved August 24, 2006.
- "Episode guide – episode 37 Mission Accomplished". HBO. 2004. Archived - ^ Margaret Talbot (October 14, 2007). "Stealing Life". The New Yorker. Retrieved October 14, 2007.
- ^ "Schmoke Offers Aid To U.S. Senate Nominee Burris". WJZ-TV (Baltimore). January 9, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Kurt Schmoke". Forbes. Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
- ^ "Kurt L. Schmoke Appointed President of University of Baltimore". University of Baltimore. May 14, 2014. Archived from the original on January 13, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
- ^ Allentuck, Andy Kostka,Pamela Wood,Danielle (January 31, 2024). "John Angelos agrees to sell Orioles to group led by David Rubenstein, Cal Ripken Jr". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Trister, Noah (January 31, 2024). "David Rubenstein has a deal to buy the Baltimore Orioles for $1.725 billion, AP source says". AP News. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ^ Kostka, Andy (January 31, 2024). "Kurt Schmoke and Michael Bloomberg part of new O's ownership, sources say". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
External links
- Kurt Schmoke at IMDb
- Membership at the Council on Foreign Relations
- Appearances on C-SPAN