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.