Baltimore has a $1.8 billion budget and 15,000 employees in 16 different agencies. I have two executive assistants, a chief of staff and chief of operations, who manages the day to day functions of the city.

As Mayor, I prepare the annual budget and sign bills into law. I have a cabinet that includes a finance director, city solicitor, public works director, deputy mayor for government relations, police and fire chiefs.

I spend a good deal of my time in community meetings, visiting schools and announcing new economic development initiatives in the city. I make a lot of speeches, including my annual "state of the city'' address. We have a communications staff of six people who help me get my message out to the public, including handling the media.

Another major component of my administration is CitiStat, a computerized accountability program. Every two weeks, department heads come before me and my council to discuss their operations. Through computers, we analyze everything from overtime to absenteeism and my cabinet explores the reasons for any changes.

Since being elected in 1999, my administration is proud of the 30 percent drop in violent crime in the city. In addition, drug addiction has dropped by 18 percent, according to the federal government. And for the first time in a decade, new office buildings are going up in downtown Baltimore. In addition, our city web site was voted as the best for citizens.

Our main goal is to bring "open, honest and transparent" government to the citizens of Baltimore.