Increase Minimum Wage

Would you support an increase in the city’s minimum wage to a level higher than that specified by the state or federal government? If so, to what rate?

	Mack Clifton "Yes. Immediately to $15 an hour. That would only apply to certain industries earning an annual income of at least $500,000."
	Shelia Dixon "I applaud the efforts of cities such as San Francisco and Seattle for their vision and bold action to increase the minimum wage to $15.00. Unfortunately, the fundamentals of Baltimore’s economy and our place in the region are very different from those two prosperous cities. I share the goal of a higher minimum wage. As a first step, I would want to want to learn everything we can about the issue and engage all sectors of our community including unions, businesses, institutions, and faith leaders in the conversation. But we can lead as a city. I am proposing to increase the salaries of all full-time Baltimore Cityworkers to $15 hour, which will the lift wages of more than 2,300 mostly Baltimore City residents. I believe that the demonstrated benefits of city employees earning more to care for their families will help shape the discussion citywide."
	Elizabeth Embry "Workers were the heart of the city in its economic heyday, and they will be the heart of any recovery. Therefore, we need to take steps to support our workers and their families. This includes passing and preserving laws to protect their right to collectively bargain, their safety in the workplace, their rights as displaced workers, and their right to a living wage. I support raising the State minimum wage to $15 per hour. I do have concerns that a unilateral move to raise the minimum wage in Baltimore City, without any action by surrounding counties, could harm the City’s ability to compete with surrounding jurisdictions. A strong statewide living wage will be a central component of my economy and jobs blueprint, and I will make that one of my leading priorities every day as Mayor. If we cannot increase the minimum wage at the state level, the City should lead the way by increasing the minimum wage for City workers to $15 per hour."
	Armand Girard "For those below 21, no minimum wage increase. They live at home, they need the job not money. After that, $15 an hour."
	Nick Mosby "I support a higher minimum wage, but feel it is important the mayor undertake a thorough study of its impact on local businesses in order to arrive at an informed rate. As mayor, performing that study and moving the resulting minimum wage legislation through City Council will be one of my first priorities."
	Carl Stokes "Yes. $15 by 2020."
	David Warnock "I support a $15 minimum wage. But we can’t conflate minimum wage legislation, which I unequivocally support, with job growth. The stakes in this election couldn’t be higher, and without bringing more job and opportunity to residents, no minimum wage legislation will change the lives of the least fortunate in Baltimore. I’ve spent my career creating good jobs in Baltimore. From my small business, Camden Partners, to the Baltimore-based companies I’ve invested in like Paragon Biosciences or Towne Park, I’ve created hundreds of jobs that pay good, family-sustaining wages. In my capacity as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Center for Urban Families, one of Baltimore’s premier workforce training nonprofits, I helped connect more than 25,000 people with job training, education and employment. Baltimore needs a leader with a proven record of getting things done to create jobs and opportunity. That’s the only thing that will get Baltimore moving in the right direction."