On Monday, April 18, the City of Baltimore lost one of her greatest sons, William Donald Schaefer. As a member of the City Council, City Council President, Mayor, Governor, and as State Comptroller, he personally touched the lives of millions of people as he worked to make Baltimore and Maryland stronger and more prosperous. In the days since his passing, we have had the opportunity to reflect on his influence on the city we love.

I was born in 1970, and the following year William Donald Schaefer became Mayor of Baltimore. For me, and for an entire generation of residents, he set the standard for what it means to be the Mayor of an American City. He insisted on being an honest, no-nonsense leader who celebrated our City's strengths while implementing a vision for the future, always believing that Baltimore's best days are ahead. Under his leadership, Baltimore's Inner Harbor was transformed into an economic engine for the City and a source of great pride for citizens in every neighborhood. Mayor Schaefer was more than a visionary leader, he was Baltimore's greatest cheerleader.

Since becoming Mayor, I have come to understand what Mayor Schaefer meant when he said that being Mayor of Baltimore is the greatest job he ever had. As Mayor, you have an opportunity to be close to the people you serve and make a real difference for people in the day-to-day governing of the City. Every Baltimore Mayor since William Donald Schaefer-and for generations to come-walks into office knowing that they have to live up to an impossible standard: do it now!