Holding a press conference with a candidate for union office 12 days before a hotly contested election does not constitute favoritism or interference in union affairs, Mayor Brandon Scott said today.

“It has nothing to do with the elections,” Scott said, after he was joined in the City Hall ceremonial room by Trevor Taylor, candidate for president of AFSCME Local 44, and about 20 other union members.

“We had this event to highlight that we are doing a historic contract for the workers of AFSCME. That is what I care about. That’s what I’m here to talk about. If you have questions for what happens with union elections and union business, that’s not a question for me,” he added.

Last month a judicial panel of AFSCME executives ruled that the Local 44 election had to be re-done because social media posts by Baltimore Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming, which highlighted the grassroots candidacy of Stancil McNair, were an act of employer interference.

“Because this violation is conduct that may have affected the outcome of the election, in accordance with Appendix D, Section 4D of the AFSCME Constitution, a rerun of the Local 44 election of officers is warranted,” the panel announced at the time.

“This is necessary to ensure AFSCME members remain confident in the fairness of their union’s democratic process.”

• No official announcement yet, but Local 44 re-vote is reportedly happening on December 6 (11/24/25)

The protest claiming election interference was brought by Taylor, who lost to McNair in August, and is running against him on December 6.

Taylor stood behind the mayor throughout today’s contract-signing ceremony. He did not address reporters, but was ushered to Scott’s side before the start of the ceremony by mayoral aides.

Asked why McNair, the union’s president, was not in attendance, the mayor answered, “AFSCME is very well represented.”

Asked if Taylor’s presence instead of McNair amounted to an endorsement, Scott did not directly answer. “This is about a historic contract for workers who have been denied raises, and really dignity, for decades.”

Asked if the event violated AFSCME’s definition of managerial interference, Scott accused the questioner of being accusatory.

“What you should be asking about is that we are finally able to get these workers raises. This is about the people who pick up my trash, your trash, your alleys, my alleys getting better pay.”

“I’m on work duty. I just can’t pick up and go to a press conference”  – Stancil McNair.

AFSCME Council 3 President Patrick Moran said that McNair had been invited to the press conference.

Reached this afternoon, McNair said he received an email yesterday from Moran about the City Hall ceremony, but couldn’t attend because he was on his garbage pickup rounds. “I’m on work duty. I just can’t pick up and go to a press conference.”

Despite losing the election, Taylor remains a full-time AFSCME employee, designated Local 44’s chief shop steward and paid jointly by the union and the Department of Public Works Bureau of Water.

Last week, Taylor appeared before the Board of Estimates to answer questions about the Local 44 contract. Taylor wrapped his arm around City Labor Commissioner Deborah Moore-Carter and listened to Mayor Scott and City Administrator Faith Leach extol sanitation workers and the contract’s generosity.