BALTIMORE (AP) - The Republican nominee for Baltimore mayor says he has been diagnosed with bladder cancer and will undergo surgery next week.
Alan Walden announced over the weekend in an email to supporters that he will undergo surgery Tuesday. The 80-year-old former WBAL-AM anchor says he is encouraged by doctors' prognosis for a full recovery, but he will be off the campaign trail for about a month.
Walden beat out four other Republicans in the GOP primary. His message has been generally optimistic about Baltimore's future, but he argues that 50 years of Democratic leadership hasn't led the city in a good direction.
In the general election, Walden will face Democratic nominee Catherine Pugh and Green party candidate Joshua Harris. Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 10-to-1 in Baltimore.
