NAACP Questions How A New Mayor Could Be Selected In Baltimore

The NAACP in Maryland is raising questions about how a new mayor of Baltimore would be selected if the sitting mayor was convicted of a crime.

It's the first time a prominent organization has raised questions about succession should current mayor Sheila Dixon be convicted of any of the nine charges she faces. Dixon, a Democrat, has been indicted and accused of misconduct and stealing gift cards meant for the poor. If convicted she could be booted out of office. Should that happen, the NAACP is asking state lawmakers to make sure Maryland's governor would not be able to appoint a new mayor.

The current governor, Martin O'Malley, is also a Democrat, but the group is worried that if a white or Republican leader were to be appointed it wouldn't fully represent the majority black and Democratic city.

A counsel to the General Assembly however, says the governor does not have the authority to appoint a successor.

Natalie Neumann reports...