 Kurt Schmoke , the incumbent Mayor of Baltimore , was serving his third term . He announced in December 1998 that he would not run for reelection the following year , the first time an incumbent Baltimore mayor did not run for reelection since 1971 . Schmoke was the first African American mayor in Baltimore 's history . 
 Kurt Schmoke , the incumbent Mayor of Baltimore , was serving his third term . He announced in December 1998 that he would not run for <a href='negative_concord' title='1'><mark>reelection</mark></a> the following year , the first time an incumbent Baltimore mayor did not run for <a href='negative_concord' title='2'><mark>reelection</mark></a> since 1971 . Schmoke was the first African American mayor in Baltimore <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>history . 
Kurt Schmoke , da incumbent Mayor of Baltimore , was serving his third term . He announced in December 1998 that he would not run fa no reelection the following year , the first time an incumbent Baltimore mayor did not run ffirno reelection since 1971 . Schmoke was tdafirst African American mayor in Baltimore  history .