What’s the job: Representing residents on the 15-member City Council, including introducing and voting on legislation, approving city spending and providing oversight of city operations. Council members are elected to four-year terms by district. The 1st District includes Southeast Baltimore neighborhoods such as Fells Point, Canton, Patterson Park, Greektown and O’Donnell Heights.

Look up your City Council district here.

Democrat

A photo of Mark Parker sitting on steps wearing a gray suit jacket, a light blue shirt, dark blue slacks, and brown shoes.
Mark Parker is a candidate for the Baltimore City Council in the 1st District. (Handout)

Name: Mark Parker

Age: 42

Personal: Married, with two children.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, history and government and politics, University of Maryland, College Park; master’s degree, divinity, United Lutheran Seminary; master’s degree, nonprofit management, University of Baltimore.

Experience: Pastor, Breath of God Lutheran Church (15 years); chaplain, University of Maryland Medical Center; Boards of Directors: Southeast Community Development Corporation, The Highlandtown Preschool, the Clinton Street Community Center, the Highlandtown Community Association, the Exchange Club of Highlandtown & Canton, the Hispanic Commission of the City of Baltimore.

Endorsements: Baltimore Teachers Union, City Councilman Zeke Cohen (1st District), Comptroller Bill Henry, state Del. Luke Clippinger, Sierra Club, former Councilperson James Kraft, former state Del. Carolyn Krysiak, CASA in Action, Clean Water Action, Progressive Maryland, 32BJ SEUI, Jews United for Justice, AFSCME Maryland.

Notable donors: Comptroller Bill Henry, Franchesca Empandas Café, Zac Blanchard, Josh Fannon, Doug Schmidt.