Baltimore City Power Rankings

1 Martin O’Malley

Ambitious Gov’s progressive agenda scores another win, abolishing the death penalty in Maryland. The impressive resume bullet point, achieved with the direct involvement and support of the NAACP and the Catholic Church, would, of course, help O’Malley in the Democratic primaries for the 2016 presidential race—not that he’s thinking about that at all. If he would only stop humming “Hail to the Chief” in the Statehouse. . .

2 Amtrak

The beleaguered national railroad service hired local builders Beatty Development, the people responsible for building up Harbor East, to draft plans for a major renovation of Penn Station and environs that would introduce 1.5 million square feet of new residences, shops, and offices. The cash infusion—about $500 million over the next decade—is just what Station North has needed to transform into a thriving destination arts district. Of course, it’ll probably price out a lot of the pioneering artists, but they probably won’t want to be there anyway, if it looks anything like Harbor East.

3 Stephanie Rawlings-Blake

Il Mayore has made increasing Baltimore City’s population one of her top priorities. (Hey, it’s easier than making the trains run on-time.) It’s a lofty, optimistic, even far-fetched goal for a city in decline for six decades—one a less ambitious executive would probably avoid—and SRB’s policies, including encouraging immigration, working to improve schools, and staging high-profile events like the Grand Prix, have no doubt helped. So with news that the city has grown for the first time in over 60 years, she deserves credit. But until the financial footing of things like TransForm Baltimore and the Grand Prix are secure, it’s unsustainable. (Hint: AUDITS! AUDITS! AUDITS!)

4 John Leopold

The former Anne Arundel County executive will serve at least 30 days in jail, along with further home detention, community service, and a $100,000 fine for, among other, less gross offenses, making subordinates empty his catheter bag. It was a harsher sentence than prosecutors even asked for but appropriate for a man who seemed to so eager to exploit his power.

5 Scott Terry