The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • A14

14 THE BALTIMORE SUN NEWS FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016 EDITORIAL State of the race Our view: Sheila Dixon is strong but not unbeatable as Catherine Pugh shows clear momentum heading into April's Democratic mayoral primary ith just six weeks go to before Baltimore's highly competitive Democratic mayoral primary, a new poll from The Sun and University of Baltimore shows some movement in a race that had been stable for months. Sen. Catherine Pugh, who has shown real fundraising and organizational strength, has pulled even with longtime front-runner former mayor Sheila Dixon. Here's a peek at what these results tell us about how this race could play out Dixon is strong but not unbeatable KARL MERTON FERRONBALTIMORE SUN When The Sun and UB first polled on this race in November, Ms. Dixon was leading the pack with 24 percent of the vote.

In January, when Gonzales Research Marketing Strategies found her in the lead with 27 percent statistically speaking, no different from The Sun's results. The new SunUB poll still has her at 24 percent Her support is solid; those who support her were less likely by far than the backers of any other candidate to say they might change their minds. But her support isn't growing either. And this survey underscored the idea that it will need to grow in order for her to reclaim her old job. Despite the large number of compelling candidates in the race, Ms.

Pugh has already consolidated enough support to draw even with Ms. Dixon (statistically speaking), and there's room among the undecideds for another candidate to do so as well. If becoming a two-woman race Ms. Dixon and Ms. Pugh are statistically tied with each other and with "undecided." Fully a quarter of the electorate haven't made up their minds, and if one of the other major candidates could win them over in large numbers, he or she could still challenge the two front-runners.

Businessman David Warnock is in the best position with 10 percent of the vote, but attorney Elizabeth Embry (5 percent) and councilmen Nick Mosby (6 percent) and Carl Stokes (3 percent) could still make a run. But at this one of point would have to capture virtually all of the undecided vote and consolidate support from rivals, and momentum is clearly on Senator Pugh's side. She's getting the support of 45 percent of those who decided within the last week and 41 percent of those who decided in the last month. Money helps, but if not enough Ms. Pugh has been highly successful at raising money and has run ads on television, but the evidence suggests that alone doesn't explain her rise in the polls.

Mr. Warnock's television ads have far outnumbered hers. He has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of his own money on TV since the first SunUB poll, and it has boosted his support by five percentage points, not a significant difference considering the margins of error of the two polls. Ms. Embry is on TV, too, and has been among the most successful candidates at fundraising, but her support is essentially unchanged since November.

Meanwhile, Ms. Dixon has lagged in fundraising and has not begun airing ads, and it hasn't hurt her one bit. KARL MERTON FERRONBALTIMORE SUN RESPOND 'Uneven justice' doesn't mean the system isn't fair Columnist Tricia Bishop conscientiously sifted through the aftermath in criminal court of the civil disorders that convulsed Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray justice for Baltimore's rioters" March 3). Finding that the 550 arrests have resulted in only four sentences of at least a year in jail, Ms. Bishop questions the very high bails on which many rioters were initially held.

At the same time she highlights the "far worse" punishment about to be meted out to Allen Bullock, whose antics will be forever recalled in the video history of the disorders. Last week Mr. Bullock agreed to plead guilty in exchange for a sentence of 12 years, with all but six months suspended and five years' probation. Ms. Bishop concludes that the data from the courts "paint a picture of a system in which what constitutes justice is arbitrary, which is part of what led to the riots in the first place." The disorders that followed Mr.

Gray's demise were less a protest than a party. Mobs surged unimpeded through many businesses. There was much opportunistic looting. The situation did not present a series of glorious opportunities for finely calibrated policing. It was crucial to take the partiers off the streets.

Prosecutors and judges knew perfectly well that when it came time to sort out who did exactly what, and what could be proven in accordance with our perfection-istic rules of evidence, most charges would fail. So what? Where chaos threatens, temporary detention protects lives and property. Yes, justice is usually "uneven." This is not the same as "unequal." Baltimore City police, prosecutors, defenders and judges did their best to address the chaos without surrendering their own very demanding standards. HalRiedl, Baltimore Feeding antibiotics to livestock puts us at risk Thank you to Sens. Shirley Nathan-Pulliam and Paul Pinsky and Del.

Shane Robinson for their leadership on fighting antibiotic resistance in the Maryland legislature through SB607HB829. The overuse of antibiotics in agriculture is a major cause of antibiotic resistance an important threat to human health bacteria a growing threat," Mar 2). As a senior veterinary student a few years ago, I watched as veterinarians handed out antibiotics to farmers on large farms by the truckload. Since becoming a veterinarian myself, I've learned this experience was not unique. The majority of these antibiotics are given to healthy animals for the purposes of disease prevention.

When given for these reasons, the antibiotics do not neutralize all of the target bacteria providing the perfect environment for the emergence of resistant bacteria More antibiotics used for these purposes will only result in more antibiotic-resistant bacteria Antibiotic resistance is a big problem that promises to grow bigger under the current status quo. To combat these drug-resistant bugs and avoid more stories like that of Senator Nathan-Pulliam's son, action must be taken immediately. SB607 and HB829 are needed to end the use of medically important antibiotics on large farms for purposes other than treating sick animals. I hope the Maryland legislature passes this important bill. Matthew J.

Ferreira, Baltimore The writer is a veterinarian and a student at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Keep government out of the vending machine A commentary written in The Sun about the Maryland Healthy Vending Act for healthy vending choices in March 7) not only misses key points about how the legislation would impact consumers but ignores positive and proactive steps taken by the industry. The legislation would limit what food and beverages adults in Maryland could purchase from vending machines that operate on state properties. The legislation not only curbs choice but dictates what businesses can and cannot sell in vending machines based on government definitions of what constitutes a "healthy" beverage or snack. Simply put, it is more red tape and bureaucracy placed on the backs of businesses.

Our members are already doing their part providing many options for consumers that include waters, juices and low- and no-calorie beverages. We have voluntarily placed clear calorie labels on the front of all of our bottles, cans and packs. We are placing calorie awareness signs on vending machines, fountain equipment and retail coolers in Maryland and other states. We are providing consumers with more choices, smaller portion sizes and fewer calories than ever before so that they can make the choice that is best for them and their families. The good news is our industry agrees that people want choices, but they want to make their own decisions.

What people don't want is more government regulation and government telling them what they can eat and drink. Ellen Valentino, Annapolis The writer is executive vice president, Mary- Beverage Association. LLOYD FOXBALTIMORE SUN I Voters aren't gravitating to outsiders Democratic primary voters believe, by a 52 percent to 35 percent margin, that the city is on the wrong track. The unrest last year after Freddie Gray's death made clear the extent to which Baltimore's leaders have failed over the years to meet residents' needs. Yet the two leading candidates are a former mayor and a state senator who has made two previous runs for city-wide office.

Two non-politicians, Mr. Warnock and Ms. Embry, are registering in the polls but have yet to display broad support. And DeRay Mckesson, a nationally prominent Black Lives Matter activist and Baltimore native who has produced one of the better platforms among the candidates, didn't show up in the poll at all. Despite all the desire for new leadership, voters are gravitating toward names they know.

KIMBERLY WHITEGETTY IMAGES Turnout is the wild card Another advantage for Ms. Pugh is her strong support from older voters, who tend to be more reliable when it comes to actually showing up on election day. Ms. Dixon's supporters skew younger. The only other candidate with disproportionate support among young voters is Mr.

Mosby. Given how low turnout has been in previous mayoral primaries, if someone can appeal strongly enough to young voters to bring more of them into the process, he or she could have a big advantage. The X-factor is the fact that this is the first time in recent memory that the city's election cycle has been synced up with the presidential primaries. Baltimore is a crucial battleground between Reps. Donna Edwards and Chris Van Hollen in the race for U.S.

Senate. Their turnout efforts have the potential to affect the results in the mayoral race. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS Talk to us THE BALTIMORE SUN The Baltimore Sun welcomes comments from TRIFFON G. ALATZAS Publisher St Editor-in-Chief readers on subjects of local and national relevance by email, by Twitter or on our Web site, baltimoresun.com. The Sun reserves the right to edit and publish them in the newspaper or on the Web site.

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