Archive: Prince George's
The Price of a County Bailout
Those interested in the future of health care in Prince George's may now be wondering: Just who is Corbett Price? His name came up on Friday, when County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) and Council Chairwoman Camille Exum (D-Seat Pleasant) offered to give the non-profit company that runs Prince George's Hospital Center the $5 million it needs to stay open, but only on certain conditions. One condition was that Mr. Price, of Mantium Corporation, be given immediate access to all financial records and facilities of Dimensions Healthcare System, which runs the hospital. Dimensions' board of directors tabled a decision on the conditions at the request of state officials. But in the meantime, the union the represents nurses and other hospital employees immediately howled in protest about Price. Why? Because he has several decades of history of tangling with hospital workers around the country. In 1985, for instance, Price was an...
By Rosalind Helderman | January 29, 2007; 01:23 PM ET | Comments (5)
Prince George's Hospital Ideas in the Hopper
There's been a great deal of movement in the last several weeks on the future of the Prince George's Hospital Center--and the three other county-owned health campuses operated by the private Dimensions Healthcare System. That's a good thing because the company is at the moment experiencing one of its periodic financial crises. They have announced that without a $5 million cash infusion by Jan. 26, they will have to start a 60-day process of shutting down. There's some bickering going on now about whether the county will pay the $5 million--and if so, what will it ask in return. Meanwhile, everyone's also trying to figure a way to a long-term solution for the hospital's problems. Del. Doyle L. Niemann (D-Prince George's) is having one idea drafted into a bill that would create a new authority, with members appointed both by the state and the county, to negotiate with new management...
By Rosalind Helderman | January 19, 2007; 11:27 AM ET | Comments (6)
O'Malley Tour Slight?
As part of his pre-Inaugural festivities, Gov.-elect Martin O'Malley (D) has embarked on a victory lap of sorts around the state to thank voters for their support and listen to their concerns for the future. One county that didn't get a stop on O'Malley's so-called "One Maryland" tour? Prince George's County, the jurisdiction that supported Democratic governor by a higher percentage than any other in Maryland. Looked at one way, O'Malley has chosen to honor the county beyond the seven counties bestowed a random tour stop: He will be holding a prayer breakfast in the county on the very morning he is sworn in as governor. But this is Prince George's, accustomed to be overlooked and used to be upset over it, so that's not the way a lot of people are looking at it. The county's Democratic Party Chairman Terry Speigner said he has received at least 30 phone...
By Rosalind Helderman | January 11, 2007; 11:32 AM ET | Comments (5)
The Credit Card Bill
It took a Washington Post story to bring to light potentially questionable charges on county issued credit cards by Prince George's Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) and members of the county council. If a bill proposed by Del. Victor R. Ramirez (D-Prince George's) passes the Maryland General Assembly next year, from now on such actions might be caught by an independent audit. Ramirez has filed a bill that would require the county to hire an independent certified accountant each year to conduct an audit of credit card charges by the elected officials. The audit would need to be completed within one month of the end of each fiscal year and the summaries published in two newspapers. Ramirez insisted his bill is motivated only by the desire to give local elected officials better guidance in using their county-issued credit cards. He said he does not necessarily believe the current council or...
By Rosalind Helderman | December 14, 2006; 10:45 AM ET | Comments (5)
The Prince George's Delegation Votes
The new Prince George's County House of Delegates' legislative delegation deadlocked this morning on who should serve as the group's chairman for the next two years. According to Del. Justin D. Ross (D-Prince George's), who attended the meeting, 11 members voted for Del. Marvin E. Holmes Jr. (D-Prince George's) while 10 members backed Del. Barbara A. Frush (D-Prince George's). However, a majority of 12 is needed to snag the job. Two delegates were absent from the meeting and Ross, who voted for Frush, said he was confident both would vote for Frush. However, Holmes has said he believes one of the two, Del. Victor R. Ramirez (D), away in Turkey, will vote for him. A new vote has not been scheduled, but Frush and Holmes pledged to talk in coming days in hopes of reaching a deal....
By Rosalind Helderman | December 8, 2006; 02:47 PM ET | Comments (1)
A Friendly Fight
In an interview this morning, Del. Marvin E. Holmes Jr. (D-Prince George's) says he has every intention of running against Del. Barbara A. Frush (D-Prince George's) for chairman of the county's House of Delegates delegation when the group gets together tomorrow. And he thinks he's going to win. "The momentum is clearly in our favor. I expect that once the vote is taken, momentum will continue to sweep in our favor," he said. "I do have 12 votes." You can read more about the leadership campaign in the entry below. Both sides seem to think the deciding vote is likely to belong to Del. Victor R. Ramirez (D), who is visiting Turkey and will miss the meeting. Both sides believe he will vote for them. And both sides have one other thing in common: They insist the two delegates are good friends and the delegation will emerge united whatever occurs....
By Rosalind Helderman | December 7, 2006; 11:05 AM ET | Email a Comment
Musical Chairs in Prince George's
It's time for the new Prince George's legislative team to choose its leaders for the next two years, and it sounds like a real campaign is on for the jobs, particularly on the House of Delegates side. According to numerous delegates, Del. Barbara A. Frush (D) and Del. Marvin E. Holmes Jr. (D) have both been enthusiastically lobbying their colleagues for the delegation chairmanship job. Frush insists she has the 12 votes necessary to win. ("I'm quite confident," she said.) But according to Frush and several others, County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) and his aides have been urging delegates to vote for Holmes, arguing that Frush will not be able to work with the county executive. She has been critical of his leadership and campaigned vigorously for her former House colleague, Rushern L. Baker III, when he challenged Johnson for the Democratic nomination for executive in September. Frush maintained...
By Rosalind Helderman | December 6, 2006; 01:57 PM ET | Comments (1)
Hendershot's Concluding Remarks
Outgoing Prince George's council member Thomas R. Hendershot (D-New Carrollton) may be under investigation by the state prosecutor for his use of the county credit card, but he pulled no punches at his last public meeting before leaving office this week. The council member was forced from office by term limits. Before stepping down, he gave a rousing address Tuesday, decrying divisions within the county. Never shy about acknowledging his own desire for publicity, he even instructed a group of students and their parents who had been attending the meeting to stay in the room to hear his words. ("The worst thing for a politician is to lose his audience," he announced after asking the teens, who were streaming from the room after the completion of their agenda item, to sit back down.) Quoting Robert F. Kennedy, Hendershot appealed for more love, less hate in society, more unity, less division....
By Rosalind Helderman | November 30, 2006; 11:24 AM ET | Comments (5)
Politics at the Prince George's Credit Union?
The election may be over, but fallout continues in heavily Democratic Prince George's County for those who crossed party lines to support Republican Senate nominee Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele. The trouble apparently isn't limited just to those who outright endorsed Steele's candidacy. In the wake of Rep. Ben Cardin's overwhelming county victory, there's now a dustup over a flier distributed by the county's non-profit credit union that may--or may not--have given Steele improper help just before the election. Here's the deal. The October issue of the monthly flier of the Prince George's Community Federal Credit Union features an item about Steele, a county resident, choosing to join the union the previous month. The item notes that Steele met with the union after making his first deposit and told them he supports credit unions because they are not-for-profit and because he believes they are good for the banking marketplace. The...
By Rosalind Helderman | November 15, 2006; 02:32 PM ET | Comments (8)
Vote "No" Effort Launched in Prince George's
It looks like Prince George's voters will be presented with a real, if somewhat last minute, campaign over local ballot initiatives. Voters face eight questions asking if they would like to amend the county charter. Experts agree the package as a whole would shift power from the county executive to the County Council. So it's probably not surprising that council members, who put the questions on the ballot, have printed literature urging voters to vote "yes" on each question. Their supporters will be handing out fliers and chatting up voters at the polls on Tuesday. Now there's a formal countereffort to get residents to vote "no" on some of the questions--and a slick effort at that. The Committee for Commonsense in Goverment unveiled a website today, www.badforcountygovernment.com, today that urges people to vote against questions B, F,C and G. (Get it? Bad For County Government) A television commercial featuring guys...
By Rosalind Helderman | November 1, 2006; 07:00 AM ET | Comments (15)
Absentee Absentees
Prince George's Elections Chief Robert J. Antonetti Sr. reports his office still hasn't received its full order of blank absentee ballots to send out to voters who requested them. Antonetti said hundreds of voters who sent valid requests for absentee ballots are still waiting to receive one, largely because the state has been so slow in printing and delivering enough copies of the 37 different versions of the ballot used in Prince George's to the county. While each election office used to contract for their own printing, the state now has one contract to do the job--with Diebold Election Systems, which also makes the county's electronic voting machines. As of Tuesday, Antonetti said Diebold had claimed it had shipped the county's full order. But he said that just wasn't true. "It's typical. They keep telling people they're doing everything, but they're not," he said. In another move he described as...
By Rosalind Helderman | October 31, 2006; 06:25 PM ET | Comments (1)
Ballot Battles in Prince George's
A loyal reader noted that we left you hanging on the results of last week's Prince George's Democratic Central Committee debate over their sample ballot. Many apologies--now for an update. The committee met last Wednesday to discuss the final make-up of the sample ballot, which is sent home to county residents handed out at polls and represents the party's suggestions as to how its members should vote. There had been disagreement on how to advise voters on a series of local ballot questions that would shift power from the county executive to the county council, as well as on the School Board election. After failing to reach consensus last week, the group decided to postpone the discussion until Tuesday night, in part to allow County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D), who had been in South Carolina attending his mother's funeral, to return and take part. According to one participant, Johnson...
By Rosalind Helderman | October 25, 2006; 11:21 AM ET | Comments (2)
A Lack of Consensus in Prince George's
Two weeks until Election Day, and divisions among Democrats in Prince George's continue to run deep. At breakfast Monday morning at Glenarden Town Hall yesterday morning, several elected officials took on the central committee and Lt. Gov. nominee Anthony Brown, warning there was little enthusiasm among African-American voters for the party's statewide ticket, which is led by white nominees for governor and senate. Prince George's County Councilman Samuel H. Dean (D-Mitchellville), for instance, warned Brown that black voters had for too long been a "mistress" to the Democratic party--willing to put out support at election time but awarded little in exchange. Dean, who confirmed the exchange afterward, said the party has a lot work to do in the next two weeks to motivate its most loyal constituency. "I'm a Democrat, and I support the Democratic party. But I think African-Americans need to stop being used by the party, and I...
By Rosalind Helderman | October 25, 2006; 07:00 AM ET | Comments (15)
Ballot Brouhaha in Prince George's
Proving that all politics are local, there are twenty-one days left before a major election and elected officials in Prince George's County continue to be consumed with an internal debate over an unlikely issue: ballot questions. County voters will face eight questions on the November ballot asking them if they favor certain amendments to the county charter. The most contentious of the group would require the county executive to get county council approval to grant contracts over $100,000. Others would require the executive to go to the council before shifting around money inside county agencies or before changing the number of positions in each agency from what is granted in the budget. In total, experts agree the group of charter amendments would shift significant power to the council from the executive, who for three decades has enjoyed tremendous power over day-to-day operations of government. The council, which sent the amendments...
By Rosalind Helderman | October 18, 2006; 07:15 AM ET | Comments (8)
Political Punching Bag in Prince George's
Prince George's County developer Leo Bruso accused Sen. President Thomas V. Mike Miller of slugging him in the jaw last month during a County Council hearing. A prosecutor dropped the assault charge on Tuesday, saying he did not have enough evidence to move forward with the case. Now it looks like Bruso is the one who wants to take jabs at Miller (even if they aren't physical ones). "It appears that Mike Miller's intimidation and power have now followed him into the Maryland Court System, manipulating the law for his own purpose, as he does in Annapolis," Bruso said in a written statement released today. Miller said that he was glad to put the entire incident behind him and grateful to witnesses who provided testimony to prosecutors. The senate president also said this week he couldn't begin to say why Bruso would file a false charge against him. But he...
By | October 12, 2006; 03:15 PM ET | Comments (2)
Another Shot at Democratic Unity
Pretty much everyone who was anyone in Maryland state Democratic politics made his or her way to the banquet hall at the Camelot of Upper Marlboro in Prince George's for the county party's unity breakfast this morning. Among the big names who addressed the several hundred attendees: Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin, running for senate, Gubernatorial nominee Mayor Martin O'Malley, Lt. Gov. nominee Del. Anthony G. Brown, Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, Rep. Albert R. Wynn, and County Executive Jack B. Johnson. Among others in the audience: Just about every local delegate, senator and member of county council along with those who want to be delegates, senators or county council members. This same event was canceled shortly after the Sept. 12 primary election because of the lack of, well, unity. But Dems were eager to show they had put the election behind them and are now raring for a big November win....
By Rosalind Helderman | October 9, 2006; 03:56 PM ET | Email a Comment
Unity: Better Late than Never in Prince George's
It took almost a month, but Democrats in Prince George's County are now ready to declare the Primary election over. Next week, county Dems will gather for a Unity Breakfast, designed to heal wounds from tough interparty skirmishes settled on Sept. 12--and prepare for their larger fight against Republicans on Nov. 7. It's all very standard, except for this: The breakfast was originally scheduled for the week of the election. It was called off in the wake of the county's ballot-counting disaster. Apparently, nobody felt much celebrating unity when the outcome of some races were not yet clear. The cancellation caused a lot of grumbling among party faithful that divisions in the party might hurt their November effort. But now, every provisional ballot has finally been examined, every missing voting machine data card tracked down. Attorney Donna Edwards, who raised all kinds of questions about the voting process after coming...
By Rosalind Helderman | October 4, 2006; 09:50 AM ET | Comments (3)
Prince George's Vote Update
Members of the Prince Geoge's County Council declared today that they want answers from Interim Elections Administrator Robert J. Antonetti, Sr. and they want them... next week. Unlike in Montgomery County, where the council hauled Board of Elections President Nancy Dacek out of vote canvassing to face a brutal interrogation about voting problems, Prince George's council members said they wanted to give Antonetti time to finish counting the votes first. But they acknowledged that they still have no idea exactly what went wrong last week and they're hoping a briefing from the temporary elections head next Tuesday might shed light. A series of technological and human errors in Prince George's meant that most votes were not counted until the day after polls closed. Some ballots remained to be counted a week later. Antonetti said Tuesday that his workers were steadily making their way through approximately 4,500 provisional paper ballots cast...
By Rosalind Helderman | September 19, 2006; 03:53 PM ET | Comments (7)
A Plotkin Pummeling
Neither of the men running for county executive in Prince George's got much love from political pundit Mark Plotkin yesterday. Plotkin hosts debates between candidates for offices big and small throughout the region on Washington Post radio and WTOP. He also regularly interviews the mayor of D.C. and the governors of Virginia and Maryland. So Plotkin was not exactly a happy camper when the time rolled around for his live on-air debate between the county executive candidates, which was also being carried live on Newschannel 8, and he had no candidates to put on the air. Plotkin reserved his harshest words for incumbent Jack B. Johnson (D), whose campaign he said "played a disengenious and duplicitous game with us for weeks," telling Plotkin they might attend before claiming Johnson had a "scheduling conflict" that made him unable to attend. He railed at length on Johnson for being unwilling to meet...
By Rosalind Helderman | September 5, 2006; 05:32 PM ET | Comments (32)
Still No Prince George's Debate
County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) appeared on the Kojo Nnamdi show on Wednesday to tell voters why they should reelect him to Prince George's top job. It wasn't exactly the head-to-head debate that challenger Rushern L. Baker III (D) has been demanding. Instead, it was more of a side-to-side discussion. First, Johnson talked for about 20 minutes, then Baker. Baker's camp has accused Johnson of ducking debates, even putting tv commercials on the air featuring a baby chicken. Johnson told Nnamdi that he is not avoiding debates, he just has a very demanding schedule. "My schedules have been very very busy," he said in response to a listener question on the topic. "I debated Rushern Baker many many times on the last election. I have to run a government that's huge. It takes up a lot of my time." Baker spokesman Alexander Krughoff noted Johnson made that comment as...
By Rosalind Helderman | August 30, 2006; 06:04 PM ET | Comments (12)
And in Prince George's, Curry Endorses...
Former Prince George's County Executive Wayne K. Curry has endorsed in a county race... but not the one you might think. Curry has repeatedly declined to publicly back executive candidate Rushern L. Baker III in his race against incumbent Jack B. Johnson (D). This despite that Baker has been using Curry's image in campaign literature and Curry has popped up at Baker fundraisers. But the charismatic former executive, who remains popular, did sign his name to another campaign today--delegate candidate Joseline Peña-Melnyk, a College Park Councilwoman and former assistant U.S. attorney who is running in the 21st district. In a letter of support, Curry said Peña-Melnyk was "a rare individual of genuine substance [seeking] public office for the right reasons." Sen. John A. Giannetti Jr. (D-Prince George's) and his opponent Jim Rosapepe both declined to include the councilwoman on their slates of candidates whom they are endorsing. Curry praised her...
By Rosalind Helderman | August 23, 2006; 07:00 AM ET | Comments (18)
Baker Uses Johnson's Words Against Him in Campaign
Former Maryland Del. Rushern L. Baker III is using Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson's own words against him in a new television ad about rape statistics in the county. According to the Baker camp, the ad started running today on all major networks. The spot begins with a scary voice that notes 2005 saw almost 300 rapes reported in the county. Then up pops a picture of Johnson wearing headphones and the county executive's voice from a May 2005 interview with WTOP. "With respect to rapes, those are not cases where somebody is walking down the street and sombody grabbed them. These are boyfriend-girlfriend relationalship issues," he says. The comment was controversial from the moment Johnson uttered it last year. A spokesman for the county police department acknowledged the same day of the radio interview that some county rapes were, in fact, stranger rape. And Johnson was criticized...
By Rosalind Helderman | August 21, 2006; 02:46 PM ET | Comments (14)
Baker Weighs in on Johnson Contracting Issue
Rushern L. Baker III, who is challenging County Executive Jack B. Johnson in the Prince George's Democratic primary, has weighed in on a Sunday Washington Post story that found Johnson had awarded 15 of his friends and political supporters 51 county contracts totaling nearly $3.3 million since he was elected almost four years ago. In a statement posted on his website yesterday, Baker, a former state delegate, said: "The Washington Post article on Sunday has raised some very serious issues for this county. First of all, nearly every African-American public official will face scrutiny when it comes to finance and ethics, which is why we need to be beyond reproach on these issues. Clearly, my philosophy differs from Johnson's, but it is the state's attorney, Glen Ivey, and federal investigators who must decide whether these concerns merit an investigation. My departure with Johnson goes well beyond 51 contracts for over...
By | August 9, 2006; 11:56 AM ET | Comments (44)
Prince George's Rumors to Rest
Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) begged off a debate with challenger Rushern L. Baker III (D) in Cheverly last Friday night, what would have been the two candidate's first opportunity to meet on the same stage to talk issues. Instead, Chief of Staff Michael D. Herman attended in Johnson's place, telling the crowd that Johnson had to cancel because of an unexpected trip to South Carolina to visit his ailing mother. Ever since, persistent rumors have circulated among Baker supporters that Johnson had been spotted in Maryland that same night. They think the executive was trying to get out of debating their man. It turns out, the rumors are true... sort of. According to a spokesman for Senate candidate Kweisi Mfume's campaign, Johnson atttended a fundraiser for the senate candidate in Burtonsville, but he arrived at late--after 10 p.m.--and told other attendees that he had just come...
By Rosalind Helderman | August 4, 2006; 07:00 AM ET | Comments (15)
Prince George's Forum Clash
A couple readers of this blog posted questions last week about last Wednesday's candidate forum at Prince George's Community College in Largo, including "Concerned Prince Georgian", who asked why Michael Herman, Executive Jack B. Johnson's chief of staff, was allowed to stand in for the candidate. The forum was organized by the local chapter of the NAACP, which allowed Herman to take Johnson's place because, according to executive's aides, he was in South Carolina tending to his sick mother. "As some of you may know, the county executive's mother has taken ill," Herman told the crowd. "Unfortunately, she's fighting for her life." (At a similar forum Friday night in Cheverly, organizers let Herman make an opening statement but declared only candidates could take questions from the audience, leaving former Del. Rushern L. Baker III on stage for 20 minutes while Herman sat impatiently in the front row of the audience.)...
By Rosalind Helderman | July 31, 2006; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (15)
Johnson Launches Campaign Website
[The following item was contributed by Washington Post staff writer Rosalind S. Helderman] Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson has launched his campaign website for his reelection effort. His opponent, former Del. Rushern L. Baker III has been online for months. Johnson's delay is perhaps a sign of how confident he is in his ability to beat Baker in September's Democratic primary. Either that or it's a sign that he wants to appear confident, putting off acknowledging that there's a campaign at all for as long as possible. Regardless, Johnson's deputy chief of staff Derrick Green said the site went live on July 12, the day Johnson formally announced his bid for reelection. Baker's site still has more of the trappings of what has become standard fare for candidates sites trying to appeal to the netroot continuency--a campaign blog, a multimedia video. Johnson's site got the basics though, including places...
By | July 27, 2006; 12:53 PM ET | Comments (12)
Baker Taps Curry in Prince George's...Well, Not Quite
[The following item was contributed by Washington Post Staff Writer Rosalind S. Helderman, who covers Prince George's politics and government] Former Prince George's County Executive Wayne K. Curry (D) hasn't made any public endorsement in this year's executive race. But you might think otherwise based on recent campaign literature from former state Del. Rushern L. Baker III, who is challenging Curry's successor Jack B. Johnson (D) for the county's top job in the Sept. 12 Democratic primary. There's Curry, smiling and standing shoulder to shoulder with Baker in a photo pasted to a campaign update email Baker sent to supporters last week. Find Curry again embedded in the main logo on Baker's homepage, his face clearly visible though fading into a green banner at the top of the site. The not-so-subtle message from the Baker campaign seems to be that Curry is something a of a silent-partner for the challenger....
By | July 24, 2006; 02:23 PM ET | Comments (12)
To Debate Or Not Debate in Prince George's
Former state delegate Rushern L. Baker III insists he's gathering momentum in his Democratic primary challenge to Prince George's County executive Jack B. Johnson. He says he's raising money, getting important endorsements, raising his profile. Now he's ready to debate. In a press release earlier this week, he said: "I am pleased to announce that we have scheduled at least one debate with Jack. WTOP's Mark Poltkin will be hosting a debate for the Prince George's County Executive race on September 5th at 10:00 a.m. on 103.5 FM. So mark it down on your calendar and make sure to tune in. I have also been invited to several other candidate forums across the county, which I plan to attend. If you bump into Jack make sure to ask him if he is going to attend." Problem is, Johnson has yet to commit. "I'm sure at some point we will be...
By | July 19, 2006; 12:40 PM ET | Comments (2)
No More Lap Dances in Prince George's
[The following item was contributed by Washington Post staff writer Rosiland S. Helderman, who covered yesterday's Prince George's County Council Meeting] The Prince George's County Council voted Tuesday to adopt strict new regulations for strip clubs, requiring clubs and exotic dancers to pay for a county license and forbidding dancers from getting within six feet of patrons. The rules are similar to those the county adopted in 2003 but then withdrew after clubs sued the county, alleging the rules violated operators' First Amendment rights. The licensing requirements are believed to be the first of their kind in Maryland and across the Washington region. Council members believe cracking down on the clubs will improve the county's image, curb crime and encourage other kinds of businesses to flourish along corridors now home to the late-night establishments. It doesn't hurt that getting tough on adult entertainment is also wildly politically popular. The council's...
By | July 19, 2006; 10:40 AM ET | Comments (10)
Prince George's County Executive Campaign: Secret Endorsements
The question has often been asked, what if a tree fell in a forest and no one was around to hear it? Would it have really made a sound? Well, what if a campaign called a press conference to announce a list of endorsements, but refused to release the names of the endorsers? That's exactly what the campaign of Rushern L. Baker III has done. Baker is a former state delegate seeking the Democratic nomination for Prince George's county executive against incumbent Jack B. Johnson. On Tuesday, Baker's campaign announced a press conference to discuss his economic development plan and, according to his news release, "Baker will also be joined by several community leaders who will publicly endorse Baker for County Executive." A handful of community activist, including Arthur Turner, head of the Coalition of Central Prince George's Community Organizations, did show up at the event. Washington Post reporter Ovetta...
By | July 13, 2006; 12:01 PM ET | Comments (4)
Prince George's Candidates Vie for Publicity
Yesterday, Rushern L. Baker III, who has struggled to garner attention for his uphill Democratic primary campaign against incumbent Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson, blast emailed dozens of local journalists about a speech he'll be giving tomorrow at 10 a.m. "Rushern Baker, candidate for Prince George's County Executive, will unveil his economic development plan for Prince George's County," the press release reads. "Baker will also be joined by several community leaders who will publicly endorse Baker for County Executive." Johnson had hoped Wednesday would be his day. Last week, he marked the day on his calendar for his official kick-off for his campaign re-election. Johnson's event will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Camelot of Upper Marlboro and is expected to draw a large crowd of supporters and a heavy contingent of reporters. Smooth move or strategic blunder on Baker's part? There are a couple ways...
By | July 11, 2006; 04:45 PM ET | Comments (6)
Council Member Bland Draws More Competition
[The following item comes from Washington Post staff writer Ovetta Wiggins.] Prince George's County Council member Marilynn Bland (D-Clinton) continues to draw opponents for her District 9 seat. This week, Vernon Hayes of Clinton officially filed for the Democratic primary. Two other opponents, Marvin M. Silver of Upper Marlboro and James Fred Harley of Clinton, have already announced. And as many as three more candidates have shown an interest in the seat. No other incumbent on the nine-member County Council has drawn as much opposition. Bland declined to comment on why she has drawn so much opposition. So far, no other incumbent on the County Council has a competitive race....
By | June 8, 2006; 03:03 PM ET | Comments (10)
Will Pulpit Power Equal Political Clout in Prince George's?
"The highest calling that one can have is for the pulpit," said Sen. Gloria Lawlah who questioned the Rev. C. Anthony Muse's priorities. "Rev. Muse should focus on shepherding his flock and leave politics to the politicians."
By | May 10, 2006; 11:54 AM ET | Comments (6)
The Race for Sen. Green's Seat Sparks Race Debate
State Sen. Leo E. Green (D-Prince Georges) announced last month that he plans to step down from his job after more than 30 years in the General Assembly. His district, which includes Bowie and parts of Mitchellville, has gone through considerable change since he was first elected. The biggest of which is the racial makeup. Thirty years ago, it was majority white. Today, it is majority black. Now there are rumblings in the community about whether a white or black senator should represent the district. Green is white. So far Douglas J.J. Peters, a white County Council member from Bowie, and Bobby Henry, a black attorney and associate minister at Jericho City of Praise in Landover, have expressed interest. Gregory Holmes, a project manager and a black newcomer to politics, has also indicated plans to run. "There is a lot of discussion going around," said County Council member Samuel H....
By | May 2, 2006; 02:30 PM ET | Comments (2)
Prince George's Executive Extols National Harbor
[I got this file a bit ago from Metro reporter Sudarsan Raghavan] Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson and county leaders said yesterday that the addition of five major new hotels at National Harbor, the largest economic development project ever in Prince George's, will bring a much-needed boost to the county's economy. "It is going to change Prince George's County for the good," the project's developer Milton V. Peterson told reporters yesterday. The hotel chains include Fairfield Resorts, a Hampton Inn, a Westin Hotel, a Marriot Residence Inn, and a W Aloft Hotel run by Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc. Washington Post business reporter Dana Hedgpeth wrote about the project in today's Business section. The properties will have 600 employees and add 900 hotel and timeshare rooms to the 2000-room hotel and convention center that is already being constructed by Gaylord Hotels. Eleven years in the making, the...
By | April 17, 2006; 03:05 PM ET | Email a Comment
Internet Intrigue in Prince George's Campaign
Campaign websites have been up and running for months now. Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan, who is running for governor, has plenty of information about his appearances and policy stances on dougduncan.com for his race for governor. Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley has done the same on martinomalley.com. Four years ago County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) used www.jackjohnson2002.com as his campaign website. But check out jackjohnson2006.com and you'll see by its contents that it's clear that Johnson and his campaign had nothing to do with this site. Described as an "open letter to Jack Johnson and the voters of Prince George's County," it includes a picture of a bird with his head in the sand and asks "Jack Johnson Where Are You?" County insiders have been talking about it for days. "You have been county executive for four years now and Prince George's has faced one unresolved crisis after another,"...
By | April 11, 2006; 02:15 PM ET | Comments (1)
Is Curry Supporting Baker in Executive Race?
It looks like former Del. Rushern Baker (D-Cheverly), who is challenging Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson in this year's Democratic primary, got former county executive Wayne K. Curry to do something he wouldn't do four years ago--attend a fundraiser for a county executive candidate. Curry refused to endorse any candidate during the 2002 election. He wouldn't even go as far as attending a fundraiser for any of the five candidates who sought to the county's top job. That's why so many heads turned last week when Curry walked into the Greenbelt Marriott at Baker's fundraiser. Baker supporters say Curry's appearance shows that Baker's campaign is gathering momentum. Baker is, at this point, considered an underdog in the race. So what does it all mean? Who knows. Curry confirmed that he attended the Baker event but wouldn't reveal whether he plans to support him. Stay tuned......
By | March 30, 2006; 04:44 PM ET | Comments (1)
A Community Reflects on the Pimp Song
[Washington Post Staff Writer Hamil Harris sent me this item about an event he attended in Prince George's County a few days ago.] More than 700 church, community and business leaders gathered at the Camelot of Upper Marlboro on Saturday for WYCB 1340 AM's 28th Annual Prayer Breakfast. Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson (D) attended the event and challenged church leaders to come out of their sanctuaries and help him in the fight to save the county's youth. The Camelot is an privately owned, upscale banquet facility adjacent to Evangel Cathedral. "I am calling on all of you, but especially the men to make a difference in our community," said Johnson who comments followed a fiery sermon delivered by Rev. H. Beecher Hicks, the pastor of the District's Metropolitan Baptist Church that was titled, "It is so hard now to be a pimp." Hicks' comments came the morning after...
By | March 29, 2006; 03:09 PM ET | Comments (3)
Will Hendershot Go Back to School (Board)?
Prince George's County Council member Thomas R. Hendershot (D-New Carrollton) says he's not running for county school board. Or at least he hasn't made any firm decisions about his future yet. But this week at a news conference held by County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) unveiling the 2007 budget, Hendershot sounded a lot like someone who's about to get on the campaign trail, offering his political experience and vision for the county. Hendershot is in his second and final term on the council, which has term limits. Speculation in some circles is that he might be eying a campaign for a school board seat. He served on before board for years before running for the council. "The last time I attended a county executive's news conference regarding the budget was in 1986 in this very same room," he said. "I was chairman of the Board of Education, and that...
By | March 27, 2006; 11:27 AM ET | Comments (4)
