Maryland General Assembly SPEAKER BUSCH ANNOUNCES COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

MARYLAND HOUSE OF DELEGATES

Michael E. Busch, Speaker

For Immediate Release:

December 29, 2010

SPEAKER BUSCH ANNOUNCES COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

ANNAPOLIS, MD – House Speaker Michael E. Busch today announced committee assignments for six standing committees in the House of Delegates, as well as appointments to new leadership positions.  In the upcoming session, Appropriations will have 25 members, Environmental Matters will have 24, Health & Government Operations, Economic Matters and Ways & Means each will have 23, and Judiciary will have 22 members. 

The committees are balanced to reflect the demographic, geographic and party makeup of the legislature. 

The following Delegates and Delegates-elect were appointed today.  Delegates not included on this list will maintain their current committee assignments. 

LEADERSHIP APPOINTMENTS

Delegate Kathleen M. Dumais (District 15) Vice Chairman, Judiciary Committee

Delegate Samuel I. Rosenberg (District 41) Vice Chairman, Ways and Means Committee

Delegate Brian J. Feldman (District 15), House Parliamentarian

Delegate Marvin E. Holmes, Jr. (District 23B) Chair, Democratic Caucus

Delegate Justin D. Ross (District 22), Vice Chair, Democratic Caucus and Chief Deputy Majority Whip

Delegate Anne R. Kaiser (District 14), Chief Deputy Majority Whip

APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

Delegate-elect Michael Hough (District 3B)

Delegate-elect Kathy Szeliga (District 7)

Delegate-elect Mary Washington (District 43)

Delegate-elect Craig Zucker (District 14)

ECONOMIC MATTERS COMMITTEE

Delegate Benjamin Barnes (District 21)

Delegate-elect Steve Hershey (District 36)

Delegate Tom Hucker (District 20)

Delegate Benjamin F. Kramer (District 19)

Delegate Steven R. Schuh (District 31)

Delegate Kelly Schulz (District 4A)

Delegate Jay Walker (District 26)

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS COMMITTEE

Delegate James W. Gilchrist (Delegate 17)

Delegate-elect Patrick Hogan (Delegate 3A)

Delegate-elect Jay Jacobs (District 36)

Delegate-elect Herb McMillan (District 30)

Delegate-elect Charles Otto (District 38A)

Delegate-elect Shane Robinson (District 39)

Delegate-elect Cathy Vitale (District 33)

Delegate-elect C.T. Wilson (District 28)

HEALTH & GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE

Delegate-elect Bonnie Cullison (District 19)

Delegate William J. Frank (District 42)

Delegate-elect Ariana Kelly (District 16)

Delegate Peter F. Murphy (Districgt 28)

Delegate-elect Justin Ready (5A)

JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Delegate-elect Tiffany Alston (District 24)

Delegate-elect Sam Arora (District 19)

Delegate-elect Luke Clippinger (District 46)

Delegate-elect John Cluster (District 8)

Delegate-elect Michael McDermott (District 38B)

Delegate-elect Keiffer Mitchell (District 44)

Delegate-elect Neil Parrott (District 2B)

Delegate-elect Geraldine Valentino-Smith (District 23A)

WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE

Delegate-elect Kathy Afzali (District 4A)

Delegate Talmadge Branch (District 45)

Delegate-elect Mark Fisher (District 27B)

Delegate Glen Glass (District 34A)

Delegate-elect Eric Luedtke (District 14)

Delegate-elect Aruna Miller (District 15)

Delegate Samuel I. Rosenberg (District 41)

Delegate Andrew A. Serafini (District 2A)

Delegate-elect Michael Summers (District 47)

# # #

Alexandra Hughes

Communications Director/Policy Advisor

Speaker's Legislative Office

410/841-3917 (o)

443/807-3881 (c)

Prince George’s County Executive’s New Beginnings



Upper Marlboro,Prince George's County Maryland - inauguration December 6th, 2010

     Rushern L. Baker III was sworn in as the seventh County Executive around noon today in the winds and bluster of December in Upper Marlboro. With flags billowing and speeches echoing, interspersed with prayers for guidance, the newly elected County Council and Executive of Prince George's County swore, affirmed and promised to uphold the constitutions of the United States and Maryland and the Charter of Prince George's County. The biring cold did little to restrain the enthusiasm for change and the calls for greatness.

Rushern L. Baker III Prince George's County Executive

    Mr. Baker called for a planned partnership with education to bring the excellence to the students of the county, and reaffirmed his intention to bring jobs as well as transparency to the development process in the county. He thanked the first responders for their sacrifices and paid compliment to the county work force promising to visit all the departments – a commitment that brought a loud round of applause. Mr. Baler also took time to mention the environmental focus of his new administration and his promise to extend a "green" vision across the county. Will the new Executive reach out to the broad spectrum of environmental and ecosystem constituencies ranging from the economic concerns of environmental justice to river keepers and clean water, from historic preservation to agricultural preserves? (In the interest of full disclosure, I would like to work in the new administration in some capacity to help Mr. Baker achieve these goals)

    Observing the ceremonies were US Senator Cardin, Congresspersons Edwards (D) and van Hollen (D), MD Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown (D) and Comptroller Peter Franchot (D) as well as the Maryland Secretary of State. Watching were dignitaries from the County's Annapolis Delegation including Senator Peters and Delegate Frush among many. Also in the audience were the Mayor-elect of Washington D.C. Vincent C. Gray (D) and Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8).

Prince George's County Md Council & Executive

    The singing of the Star Spangled Banner was wonderfully done and reminded me of the history of Upper Marlboro and the writing of the anthem in part due to the arrest of town resident Dr. William Beanes. The brilliantly sung music and the stirring words spoke to the trials and tribulations once faced and overcome. The evident desire to begin anew and to work for the betterment of the County's residents was elucidated at length by Councilperson Harrison in here winter warming remarks that reminded us of the history we all share. Mr. Johnson, the out-going County Executive, was also in attendance supporting his wife Leslie Johnson (D) who was sworn in to represent my district, District 6.



     So for the moment parochial interests were set aside and promise of partnerships for the citizens of the county rippled through the assembled crowd as hope was renewed for a fresh start and a new beginning. Coming up, who will be the new Chair of the County Council, and how will serve in the new Administration. Will there be a general collegiality of purpose between the County's new Executive and its new Council?

Prince George's County Md Inauguration Upper Marlboro 2010 

1
The Site of the Residence of Dr. William Beanes http://wikimapia.org/7977423/Tomb-of-Dr-William-Beanes On the site of the Marlborough High School stood the residence of Dr. William Beanes. Here General Ross made his headquarters August 22, 23, 1814, on his march to Bladensburg and Washington. Here Dr. Beanes was made a prisonor for instigating the arrest of marauders from the British Army. It was to secure his release that Francis Scott Key visited the British fleet and being detained during the bombardment of Fort McHenry was inspired by its valiant defense to write the American National Anthem. This tomb was restored by the public school children of Prince George's County assisted by the National Star-Spangled Banner Centennial Commission under the auspices of the Star-Spangled Banner Society of Prince George's County


    

Who should represent District 6 in Prince George’s County?

As I noted in my last blog, I would have no chance because I have no mooned interests behind me. Arthir Turner who did run on his record of 20 years of community collaboration, service and work, also has no monied interests behind him. Arthur Turner's record speaks for itself, but a record of service is not enough it would seem. And woe is to the candidate who actually has specific ideas that can be debated and discussed..

	The current favorite		ARTHUR TURNER
Davis	Title I Program Family and Parent Involvement Coordinator for Prince George's County Public Schools		1. Coalition of Central Prince George's County Community Org. – President
Davis	The ARC of Prince George's		2. Towns of Kettering Home Owners Association – President
Davis	Prince George's County NAACP		3. United Communities Against Poverty (UCAP) – Chair of Board
Davis	Chaired, Freddie Mac Early Childhood Grant Fund for the Prince George's Community Foundation		4. Prince George's County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee -Former Chair (3 Terms)
Davis	Elected to the Prince George's County Democratic Democratic Central Committee in the 25th District		5. Prince George's County Chamber of Commerce Quality of Life Committee – Former Chair
Davis	Appointed to Park & Planning Commissions Airports Advisory Committee		6. Elected Vice-Chair to the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee (25th Legislative District)
Davis	Appointed to the 2000 Prince George's County Charter Review Commission		7. Board of Directors Prince George's County Library Foundation – Member
Davis	Appointed by the Governor in 2007 to the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund (MAIF) Board of Trustees, Derrick was elected Chairman of the Board in December		8. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA – Blue Line Extension Advisory Group Committee) – Member
			9. Largo-Lottsford Area Sector Plan—Planning Advisory Group – Member
			10. PEPCO Community Advisory Group (CAG) – Member
			11. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA – Transit Oriented Development Advisory Committee) – Member
			12. Prince George's County Citizens Police Academy – Graduate
			13. Andrews Air force Base Honorary Commander
			14. Leadership Prince George's-Graduate
			15. Volunteer of the Year." Awarded by the Maryland Community Action Partnership/Maryland Head Start Association
			16. "Bridge Builders Award." Presented by The Prince George's Community Foundation
			17. Appointed Prince George's County Liquor Inspector.
			18. Spent hundreds of hours meeting with developers, their attorneys, and the MNCPPC to negotiate for the options we want
			19. Leading voice for upscale retail and quality, white tablecloth restaurants, fighting long and hard for the shopping and dining experiences
			20. Worked for the opening of Arena Drive-Beltway Exit 16 24 hours a day
			22. Leading advocate for better customer service at our existing restaurants and retail stores
			23. Reached a landmark agreement with the developer of the new Capital Heights Shopping Center. The developer agreed to our demands that no fast-food restaurants
			24. For over a decade a leading voice calling for Prince George's County to diversify our economy by focusing on federal and state government agencies and attracting them here
			25. Convened a hearing of the Maryland Board of Public Works to discus moving the Department of Planning to Prince George's County
			26. Over 70 links to articles that chronicle thousands of hours that 27/ Arthur has invested as an unpaid volunteer
			27. Community involvement and activism was featured in the Prince George's Suite magazine
			28. Long-time advocate and supporter of the Kettering Largo Mitchellville Boys and Girls Club
			29. Arthur acted and led a community-based group that was successful in its fight to keep the Forestville State Police barracks open

Prince George’s County Maryland, District 6 and the Future

    Just back from a technical mission to Cameroon, I am stunned, dismayed, embarrassed, outraged and concerned about my county, Prince George's and my district 6. Is it time now to elect citizens with no connection to outside money and powerful interests? Have we had enough as the butt of joke and snide comments about our ability to get things done? Can we find away to elect community leaders who are not out to enrich themselves or their powerful supporters, but who are ready to work for the benefit of the common good? The answer I am afraid is that we will have learned nothing, and we shall elect to the council yet another person beholden to money and power.
    What we need in District 6 is someone who has the backbone to publically post his or her plan for the district and county, willing to amend it or update it through transparent processes, to listen to the citizen's concerns and address them in an open manner and be accountable for the public's funds in the budget. We need someone who will address environmental justice issues surrounding unrelenting development, bring the spotlight of public scrutiny upon the eyesore of Landover Mall, watch carefully the trajectory for FedEx field lest it join Landover Mall, keep and eye on and a figurative torch to the quality of stores in The Boulevard at the Capital Centre, work with the town of Upper Marlboro to create a first class, "capital" county seat, hover over the plans for Westphalia, deal with the traffic and pollution nightmare that the new waste transfer station will bring to 301, partner with the new county executive to support and enhance the school system including following his lead by visiting every school in the district each year, work with the community college to reach out to the community, ensure that the libraries stay open, police stations and fire station stay manned and equipped, ensure small and medium size businesses find incentives to locate with quality jobs with in the district, and to generally support the other council members in projects that increase the well being of all of Prince George's County.    
    I would bring specificity to the position, outspoken, clear ideas when necessary and an ability to find consensus when appropriate, but I would not win for I would not bring special interest's willingness to pave our way to prosperity, nor an obligation to support blindly one group's agenda over the greater good. I am a radical moderate looking for the pragmatic center. In this county a citizen like me with no strings attached is unable to be elected. Because of our unwillingness to take control of our own future, we shall find more of the same and wonder why.

Government by vaguenessss in Prince George’s County

    Prince George's County has lost its mind. It just approved 240 million in capital bond financed spending. How many people can actually detail what the money will be spent on. More to the point, after building or repairing what ever we just voted for, where will the staffing and program money come from? Having just given our council and executive another raise without saying where the funding will come from, we now will build renovate and repair structures for which h we do not have any money to provide programs or employees. We keep building and developing without actually having any idea as to how we shall fund the resulting ongoing programs and maintenance projects. And we make it nearly impossible to actually know what we are approving by crafting ballot language with no specifics. It goes without saying that we shall find new fees and taxes continuing the endless cycle of uniformed debt obligation. It is almost as if the political class thinks the rest of us are too busy or simply not smart enough to understand what they are doing.
    We Prince Georgians need to start today asking each other how our politicians plan to pay for the programs and personnel of any novel capital project that they cook up. We need to tell them to focus on what we have and fix it before adding more to the county's debt load. How will they pay for the programs and people that will be needed to provide support for whatever new project they have in mind? We cannot pave our way to prosperity, nor can we spend our way to success. Transparent accountability in government means clearly stating the project and the long term funding prospects for programs and the staff. If you, our politicians, are going to build something, how will you pay for the infrastructure support, staffing and programs after you pay for the development itself.

We should vote NO on Prince George's County Maryland ballot Question F

Prince George's County will be voting on ballot question F which is completely vague and intentionally uninformative, and reads as follows:

Question F
Charter Required Referendum
(CB-54-2010)
Environmental Facilities Bonds

An Act enabling the County to borrow money and issue bonds in an amount not exceeding $28,675,000 to finance the design, construction, reconstruction, extension, acquisition, improvement, enlargement, alteration, renovation, relocation, rehabilitation or repair of Environmental Facilities, as defined therein.

     Prince George's County Maryland is deciding whether to spend more money then planned on a waste transfer facility right next to the Patuxent River adjacent to significant wildlife wetlands. Our political elite which always knows better than the rest of us and whose vision is to pave our way to prosperity is oblivious to long term costs and damages that here attempt to hide their real intentions will being to the county. In order to solve a bad management process, poor political leadership and to hide their own accountability they have decided to sacrifice long term ecosystem services for short term political expediencies.

         Prince George's County has decided that placing a waste transfer station at or near a "stronghold watershed" is a strong statement of county stewardship and a clear signal of the county's long term commitment to the environment. The clear unique properties of the site and the surrounding land and water is ignored as the the one of a kind site is proposed for intensive industrial use. This is the county's idea of protecting the environment. No matter the significant endangered species, Prince George's County has decided that there would be no impact.

"Nearly every person in Maryland lives within one mile of a headwater stream. Successful protection and restoration of Maryland's rivers and the Chesapeake Bay require protection and restoration of the thousands of miles of headwater streams that drain our mountains and upland areas. A "stronghold watershed", the Western Branch, a tributary to the Patuxent River, is one of a few unique watersheds in the State with special ecological landmarks. "Stronghold watersheds" are like no other places in Maryland because of the species that live within the watershed. Three state-endangered fish species, including the stripeback darter (which lives no where else in the State) live in the Western Branch. The Western Branch watershed ranked 8 th out of 84 watersheds in Maryland for its unique contribution to Maryland's biodiversity. With the help of more than 700 stream waders, the Maryland Biological Stream Survey monitors the health of more than 10,000 miles of streams to provide critical information needed to protect and restore our aquatic resources, including the Chesapeake Ba.y"

    In addition, the county blithely tells its residents that there is adequate protection for building on or near wetlands and that there is no need to be concerned about polluting the Patuxent river. The facts of the current inappropriate use are quickly swept away as is the current trash and debris.

"
http://www.jugbay.org/jugbay/JB_Summer-08_view.pdf


"First we felt the effect of last summer's severe drought, followed bybelow-average rainfall throughout the winter and spring. Low groundwater levels affected trees and other plants, as well as the hydrology of ponds, vernal pools, and river flow.Then, in early May, nearly 10 inches of rain fell in five days. The resulting Patuxent River flood was reminiscent of Tropical Storm Isabel: water levels rose eight feet upstream near Bowie, and 16 feet in Western Branch. At the Sanctuary, the Railroad Bed Trail and River Pier were under water. The swiftly moving, sediment-laden water reached a volume of 25,000 cfs (cubic feet per second) in Western Branch, overwhelming the Western Branch wastewater treatment plant. The plant's 30-million-gallon per day capacity was flooded by 80 million gallons on May 9 when only 20% of the rainfall had occurred. In the end, 16 million gallons of sewage flowed into river—a result of Combined Sewer Overflows. These are common conduits that carry both sewage and stormwater.When heavy storms occur, the pipes containing sewage flood and bypass the wastewater treatment facility. The result: raw sewage in Western Branch and the river. After the storm, we witnessed logs from hundred-year-old trees sailing swiftly down the river, like canoes with no passengers. An entire floating dock with pontoons washed up against the Sanctuary's small pier by the boardwalk. And a pile of debris a half an acre wide and five feet deep, dotted with plastic bottles and a variety of snakes escaping the rapid waters, was shoved up against the river pier. At last, the vernal pools filled to maximum capacity. (See Spadefoots Toads, p. 5) "
     The message that the political elite of the county do not want you to know, the true intent of ballot question F is to quickly move our trash to a place where it will do the maximum harm to the Patuxent River. We are externalizing the bad judgment and rash decisions of our county leadership onto the unique irreplaceable resource that is the Patuxent River. We CAN have 21^st century development and preserve the ecological systems that we need to support world class development. Unlike what our politicians seem to suggest this is not an either or situation. That said, however, the placement of the site which is now turning into a funding boondoggle and costly cash overrun project, must no go forward.


    We should vote NO on Prince George's County Maryland ballot Question F



Friday, October 30, 2009 Land-use, Leadership, Elections, and Prince George's County

Monday, July 20, 2009 Prince George's County Council invades the rural tier with intens zoning change at last minute

Thursday, March 26, 2009 Prince George's County's 19th century land use plan

Sunday, March 22, 2009 Does Prince George's County have a Plan - that means anything?

Friday, September 19, 2008 Endangered Species of the Western Branch of the Patuxent River also:Upper Marlboro development to feature a hotel with trash site over look

Wednesday, September 17, 2008 Prince George's County proudly decides:A waste transfer station in the county seat also: Waste transfer station on the Patuxent River

Tuesday, September 16, 2008 Upper Marlboro's New Development Center Piece

Saturday, August 14, 2010Prince George's County Dumps $19 Million More on Bad Idea




 

The Endless Season of Politics as Usual in Prince George’s County

    It is election time in Prince George's County and the sign-stealing, character assassinating, issue avoiding campaign process is in full swing. And, to keep the county in a state of agitation and the pot boiling, so to speak, the County Executive and the County Council Chairman are continuing their non-conversation extending the eight years of figure pointing right up to the bitter end. The hospital is on life support, and the Chair of the Council is suggesting yet another analysis of the cash situation, which even the least among us knows is dire. On the other hand, the County Executive has sent badly needed cash that is apparently from the county's general fund in such a manner as to preclude council oversight or action.
    Bruce Depuyt, on his NewTalk blog at TBD.com, reports that the transfer, according to the County Council Chair, "appears to circumvent the budget process and may be illegal." The nature of the report highlights the parochial bickering that is a feature of ineffective government on the part of all the players. How is it possible that we are talking about the legality of a transfer to a critical institution rather than talking about how we are going to fix the problem of the Hospital's chronic cash flow? In deed how is possible that we are still talking about the unresolved financial problems of the hospital at all? We are talking about a transfer that might have taken place by other means, but one way or another is needed to address the unbillable costs of providing primary care treatment to the Washington area's uninsured.
    Prince George's County has spent eight years with a council and executive at odds with each other for a myriad of impenetrable reasons spotlighted by attacks on and of personalities. Part of this is our own doing, for gathering together in special interest groups representing local areas, communities or projects, we demand that our elected official pay attention only to our particular special needs. Our single-minded pursuit of our own special interests guarantees that our politicians and their politics mirror the county to a tee. Eight years and we still have not addressed the operating cash position of the hospital system. In a building owned by the county, there are no resources or support to upgrade the facilities; no plan as to how we are going to operate in the 21^st
    The problems of the hospital are large and difficult, but we can not solve even the small problems without personal attacks. And woe unto a supporter who does not blindly rally around the politician, let alone dare a critique, for he or she is quickly denied access and consigned to political limbo. There is no ability or place for agreeing to disagree; everything in Prince George's County is one way or the highway. The fractured politics of Prince George's County enables groups with money to take charge of the dynamics of decision making filling the vacuum of an electorate in self inflicted disarray now encouraged by moneyed interests..
    The question should be: Why does the hospital still need cash support from without? How many more studies do we need? And let's remember it is election time. What is the coherent, cohesive plan for the cash strapped hospital? Where is the proposed in detail plan of action by the candidates for county executive? How will they address the root problem of the hospital and health care, and, as importantly, how will the council and the executive solve this seemingly endless crisis together?
    I hear no plan, I see no plan - there is no plan. But I am aware of the efficient sign stealing program, the determined, focused efforts to suppress dissent and discourage debate of new ideas and old policies, and the assorted, sundry slams at candidates' characters. In this Prince George's County's politics is second to none. As I wrote earlier, a candidate for executive with a clear, concise plan has no chance to be elected. County executive campaigns running towards a political center are unelectable in Prince George's County

The Politics of Fear in Prince George’s County

    Sadly politics in Prince George's County is rarely about the issues but rather always about the cult of personalities. Instead of debating differences in positions, some of the political class tries to make the pressing issues of the day disappear in favor of sign stealing and assorted non issue tricks of the political campaign trade such as information obfuscation.  While things are bad at the council level campaign, it is worse in the county-wide executive race. Here issues do not matter at all. The history of race relations "colors" the political calculus, and one candidate may win by taking advantage of the split with in the African-American community. Environmentalists, conservationists and preservationists are lining up behind the candidate who is supported by the same interest group that wanted to develop east along the Patuxent. At this point, the traditional environmental community that has no connection to the existing African-American communities and rarely addresses issues of environmental justice wants to elect those who believe development consists of paving our way to prosperity.

    Meanwhile, the traditional African-American power centers are fighting each other much in the same way that Baltimore fights Prince George's County in State policy questions rather than building a coalition of political dominance. By having two strong determined candidates focused on one another, the possible front runner is allowed to finesse his divergent constituents' positions and needs It is amazing that environmentalists have so soon forgotten the way of the world under the previous administration in their haste to latch onto a personality with whom they feel comfortable at the expense of their ideals and causes.

    Which candidate do we really think is going to protect the last open spaces? This is the question that is not being answered. For many it is a needless question for they see plenty of land crying for development and pavement. Which candidate do we think the "land development at any cost means prosperity" special interest is more likely to support? The inability to talk about development as the only tool of economic prosperity of course presumes that land is infinite. The short term thinking has no plan for what happens when all the green space is covered, because the interested parties will have made their money and moved on and out. Instead of debating the pros and cons, I hear conversations about intellect and judgments of personal capabilities made by people from afar through the lenses of factoid journalism handed out in 30 second sound bytes.

    So let me be clear: the issues of development and the environment are being subsumed by issues of race and class. This is outrageous, unfortunate and dangerous to the future of the county and its ecosystems that provide services to all the people who live here. Which team of interest groups will be more likely to defend green spaces and river ways, clean air and clean water, parklands and natural areas: those from the administration that came before the Johnson team or those who struggled to right the environmental wrongs and set us on a new course of action. Who is going to stand up and say no to more pavement and concrete in the rural tier and work to bring true quality of life development to our established communities beyond the building of an occasional strip mall or industrial storage units?

    Prince George's County is steeped in the politics of patronage, in itself not a necessarily bad thing, but here taken to an extreme. Once one publically endorses a candidate woe is to him if his candidate does not win. So we speak not of issues but of personalities couched in the racial code of intellect and charisma ignoring the actual discussion of the best policies for the county. Should we develop the rural tier? Yes or no. Should we encourage more mall retail services into our developing tier? Yes or no. Should we be concerned about the demands on our service infrastructure development in the south county will bring and who will pay for this over the long run? How come it is more cost effective to build a new mall than to rehab and old one? How can we bring quality jobs through business development initiatives to our established communities instead of encouraging more bedroom subdivision development for people who work outside of the county? The discussion and debate between those who believe in developing everything and those who believe in limitations on developments as a sole economic engine is a necessary and needed conversation with the truth most likely being somewhere in between.

    In the end, politics in Prince George's County is based upon fear born of history and kept alive by self-interests. Fear of having no influence, fear of race and fear antagonizing the land development industry and the unions. This fear is why we steal campaign signs and why we are constantly chastised by the Washington media which, through its negative reporting, encourages the fractured, parochial politics that infest our discourse and actions in Prince George's County. We are better than this Prince George's; we have nothing to explain to anyone; we have only to stop being afraid.

Let’s Compare Arthur Turner's Accomplishments to the other 4 Candidates for Council in Prince George’s County District 6 rather than Steal his Signs

    Stealing my "Arthur Turner for Prince George's County Council District 6" sign by walking 40 plus feet onto my property inside my 6 foot fence into my field has moved me from passive to active support of the only man qualified by his record of citizen support for the position. Trying to silence my opinion now leads me to a louder statement of support of Arthur Turner and a closer look at the record of active county involvement over the last 15 years of all the candidates. I am not interested in familial relationships, but in demonstrable action. I am not swayed by whom one knows, but by what one has accomplished.


    I have to wonder what the criteria for support was used by the media, given a cursory comparison from the internet of Arthur Turner's record and advocacy, as compared to the other four candidates:

	THE OTHER FOUR CANDIDATES		ARTHUR TURNER
Davis	Title I Program Family and Parent Involvement Coordinator for Prince George's County Public Schools		1. Coalition of Central Prince George's County Community Org. – President
Davis	The ARC of Prince George's		2. Towns of Kettering Home Owners Association – President
Davis	Prince George's County NAACP		3. United Communities Against Poverty (UCAP) – Chair of Board
Davis	Chaired, Freddie Mac Early Childhood Grant Fund for the Prince George's Community Foundation		4. Prince George's County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee -Former Chair (3 Terms)
Davis	Elected to the Prince George's County Democratic Democratic Central Committee in the 25th District		5. Prince George's County Chamber of Commerce Quality of Life Committee – Former Chair
Davis	Appointed to Park & Planning Commissions Airports Advisory Committee		6. Elected Vice-Chair to the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee (25th Legislative District)
Davis	Appointed to the 2000 Prince George's County Charter Review Commission		7. Board of Directors Prince George's County Library Foundation – Member
Davis	Appointed by the Governor in 2007 to the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund (MAIF) Board of Trustees, Derrick was elected Chairman of the Board in December		8. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA – Blue Line Extension Advisory Group Committee) – Member
Johnson	Shaw Area Optimist Club		9. Largo-Lottsford Area Sector Plan—Planning Advisory Group – Member
Johnson	Girl and Boy Scouts		10. PEPCO Community Advisory Group (CAG) – Member
Johnson	Shiloh Baptist Church Sunday School		11. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA – Transit Oriented Development Advisory Committee) – Member
Johnson	Ivy Community Chairites of Prince George's		12. Prince George's County Citizens Police Academy – Graduate
Johnson	Washington Fisk Alumni Association		13. Andrews Air force Base Honorary Commander
Johnson	St. Mark;s Volunteers		14. Leadership Prince George's-Graduate
Polk	police officer with the county for twenty three years		15. Volunteer of the Year." Awarded by the Maryland Community Action Partnership/Maryland Head Start Association
Johnson	Sisters to Sisters Empowerment		16. "Bridge Builders Award." Presented by The Prince George's Community Foundation
Johnson	Largo High School PTA & Cheer;eaders		17. Appointed Prince George's County Liquor Inspector.
Johnson	NAACP Freedom Fund Award		18. Spent hundreds of hours meeting with developers, their attorneys, and the MNCPPC to negotiate for the options we want
Johnson	Literacy Council of Prince George's		19. Leading voice for upscale retail and quality, white tablecloth restaurants, fighting long and hard for the shopping and dining experiences
Johnson	Prince George's Coomunity College Foundation		20. Worked for the opening of Arena Drive-Beltway Exit 16 24 hours a day
Johnson	Prince George's County Community Foundation		21. Opposed to the construction of Jack Kent Cooke Stadium
Polk	Police officer with the county for twenty three years		22. Leading advocate for better customer service at our existing restaurants and retail stores
Polk	Mentor Attorney to other attorneys participating in the Maryland Pro Bono Foreclosure Project		23. Reached a landmark agreement with the developer of the new Capital Heights Shopping Center. The developer agreed to our demands that no fast-food restaurants
Polk	Prince George's County Memorial Library System, Board of Trustees, where he is currently the Vice President		24. For over a decade a leading voice calling for Prince George's County to diversify our economy by focusing on federal and state government agencies and attracting them here
Bethea	Prince George's County resident for over 20 years		25. Convened a hearing of the Maryland Board of Public Works to discus moving the Department of Planning to Prince George's County
Bethea	District Court Commissioner-Prince George's County		26. Over 70 links to articles that chronicle thousands of hours that 27/ Arthur has invested as an unpaid volunteer
Bethea	Maryland State Police-Communications-Prince George's County		27. Community involvement and activism was featured in the Prince George's Suite magazine
Bethea	Counselor for Intellectually Challenged Individuals		28. Long-time advocate and supporter of the Kettering Largo Mitchellville Boys and Girls Club
			29. Arthur acted and led a community-based group that was successful in its fight to keep the Forestville State Police barracks open