Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Campaign Phone
(301)953-4742
Campaign Instagram
@laura4countycouncilatlarge
I’m a mom and scholar with two decades of personal experience with local organizations, communities, and governance to assess health systems and improve healthcare access, economic opportunity, and equity. Years of high-level training and practice in evaluating and teaching policy analysis guide my policy approach. I’m publicly financed because I am compelled by ethics and commitment to representative democracy, and firmly believe that people, not money should have the priority in our community.
We need effective policies that are based on the real, material needs of the people and sound evidence with clear, measurable impacts. I would call for an independent audit of our finances so we can work smarter with what we have. I would support increasing our budget for education, afterschool and summer youth programs, vocational and tech programs, public health, Fire/EMS, public works, and parks and recreation programs, as well as sustainable transportation and bike route expansion.
Data centers are a failed economic policy for our County. Experts have warned they are a bubble with little to no economic gains. Existing laws prevent our county from collecting any potential tax revenue. We already pay some of the highest costs for electricity in the country. Proposed data centers alone would force electric bills of Prince Georgians up by as much as $70 a month and destabilize our energy grid. Data also show how dangerous these centers are to air, water, and health quality.
22,000 residents signed a petition opposing use of the Landover Mall site for data centers. They want projects like a community park and recreation space, historical sites and revitalization, mixed use space for small business development, and affordable housing. All future development must be planned and developed in direct, consistent consultation with county residents. Other options might include Agrovoltaic projects, vocational schools, and Medical Innovation and Technological Campuses.
We can’t achieve this goal without investing in teachers and students. Investing in the socio-economic stability of students and their families are shown to make schools safer and improve public trust and perception. Data show that AI surveillance and policing are ineffective and a poor use of our budget. Adequate afterschool and summer programs, vocational and college prep programs, a living wage for teachers, and mentorship and professional development for our teachers are long term solutions.
Reviewing our property tax code and a county audit would support the development of fair and effective taxation. Raising taxes on large corporations and developers, as well as smart tax reforms to include land value taxes for unused resources that remain undeveloped and untaxed would significantly increase the county’s tax revenues without threatening new property taxes. Doing so may allow for revision of existing property taxes or free up funds for progressive tax rebate programs.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Campaign Phone
301-437-8394
Campaign Instagram
@joleneivey
I’m currently on County Council, first elected in 2018 in D5 and elected At-Large in 2024. My colleagues elected me Chair in 2023. I previously served in the MD House of Delegates from 2007 to 2015 and was Chair of the PGC House Delegation from 2012 to 2014. Previously, I was Chair of an environmental committee for the Metro Wash. Council of Governments, and I was appointed by Gov. Wes Moore to serve on the state’s Zero Emission Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Committee for the 2023-2026 term.
My priorities for the budget are first responders/public safety, schools, aiding our most vulnerable residents, protecting our bond rating without raising taxes, public and maternal health, expediting the permitting process, and ensuring efficient county services. Seniors should be able to age in place, and historically we have underfunded social services. When the budget allows, I’d like to see senior property tax relief, an increase in funding for social services, and rental assistance.
The decisions made now will affect the county and residents for years. The council should and will revise the current law, to balance any possible economic benefit with environmental protections, rising electric bills, infrastructure capacity, water use, and quality of life. I have cosponsored the current pause in approvals, the repeal of tax breaks, and the repeal of the 2021 zoning that was too permissive. The county should pass overlay zones to determine and control where they can be built.
Losing these assets creates an opportunity for the county. The county should take advantage of its world-class Discovery District at Univ. MD and, in partnership with the state, expand an associated development hub in the county for next-generation quantum tech. We have a strong base already and should use wisely targeted incentives to attract other tech. I’d like to see a large senior living community similar to Leisure World, with extensive mixed-use and retail adjacent to it and accessible.
I support increased pay for teachers, building more new schools as quickly as possible, and providing wraparound services for students and families. 60% of the county’s budget goes to the school system, and the elected school board decides how that money is spent. The county needs to meet its obligations under the state-mandated Blueprint, and our students and educators deserve predictable, sustained investment that fulfills both the letter and the intent of the Blueprint.
The county is too dependent on residential property taxes; the county needs to expand its commercial tax base. Property taxes have increased as valuations, determined by the state and not the county, have increased because of a statewide and county housing shortage. The tax rates have not gone up, but residents are paying more because their homes are assessed to be worth more. This is a serious problem, and the county needs to implement policies to encourage more residential construction.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Campaign Phone
202-706-8946
Campaign Instagram
dr.jenniferrios
My 13 years in the United States Army, along with doctoral training in Business Management, prepared me to lead complex organizations and manage large budgets. As a business strategist and community leader, I focus on practical, data-driven solutions, strong accountability, and collaboration. My goal is to strengthen Prince George’s County’s economy, improve public services, and build stronger partnerships across our communities.
The county budget should reflect our priorities. I support increasing investments in education, workforce development, small businesses, and infrastructure. We must also expand mental health services and youth programs that help prevent crime and support healthier communities. Regular audits can identify waste and duplication, allowing us to redirect resources toward programs that deliver real results and long-term economic growth.
Data center development should only move forward with strong zoning standards, environmental review, and infrastructure planning. Facilities should use energy-efficient technologies, limit water consumption, and incorporate renewable energy where possible. Developers must also contribute to necessary power grid and transportation upgrades so taxpayers are not left covering the costs.
Prince George’s County has major opportunities to transform underused areas. Locations around Six Flags America, FedExField, and the former Landover Mall can become vibrant mixed-use destinations with housing, retail, offices, and entertainment. Smart planning should emphasize transit access, opportunities for local small businesses, and workforce partnerships that create long-term jobs and year-round economic activity.
Improving outcomes in Prince George’s County Public Schools starts with supporting teachers and investing in students early. We should strengthen teacher recruitment and retention, expand early literacy programs, and grow career and technical education tied to regional industries. Partnerships with local colleges and employers can help prepare students for college, entrepreneurship, and in-demand careers.
Grow the county’s commercial tax base by redeveloping underused properties and attracting new businesses. Expanding the business base will bring in more revenue and help reduce the tax burden on homeowners.
Campaign Phone
2405996139
I have spent my life serving this country and Prince George’s County. I retired as a U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, served 17 years as a Prince George’s County police officer, and was Deputy Director of County Homeland Security. I have written policy, managed government programs, and founded a nonprofit that provides scholarships to local students. Service, leadership, and accountability define my record.
Our budget should prioritize education, youth opportunity, workforce development, and public safety. Investing in prevention, job training, and small business support strengthens communities and reduces long-term costs. We must also conduct regular performance audits to eliminate waste and ensure every taxpayer dollar delivers measurable results for residents.
Data centers must benefit residents, not burden communities. I support strict environmental protections, limits on water and energy consumption, and infrastructure improvements funded by developers. Community benefits agreements and local hiring requirements should ensure these projects create jobs and revenue while protecting neighborhoods and quality of life.
These sites should become vibrant mixed use destinations with housing, retail, entertainment, and technology and business hubs. Strategic redevelopment should prioritize local hiring, minority owned businesses, and transit oriented growth. With the right vision, these properties can become economic engines that create jobs and expand the County’s tax base
Improving our schools requires investing in teachers, expanding career and technical education, and strengthening mentorship and tutoring programs. As someone who mentors youth and provides scholarships through a nonprofit I founded, I believe stronger partnerships between government, educators, families, and community organizations will help our students reach their full potential.
The longterm solution is expanding the County’s commercial tax base so homeowners are not carrying the burden. Strategic redevelopment, attracting new businesses, and supporting entrepreneurship will grow revenue and ease pressure on property taxes while also expanding affordable housing and protecting seniors and working families.
Campaign Phone
301-893-4774
Campaign Instagram
@watersforatlarge
My experience of serving as the recent Former Mayor of the Town of Eagle Harbor, Maryland, which is one of the last predominately African American municipal waterfront communities remaining in the nation, has helped to prepare me for this role. Under my administration, the Town of Eagle Harbor experienced the largest financial benefits of its nearly one hundred-year-old history. I will bring that same skill set to Prince George's County, Maryland.
Increased budget funding needs to be placed on senior services, affordable housing, and youth activities. At the same time, budget priorities continue to include education, public safety, behavioral health, and community programs. The shifting of reportedly $13 million from community programs to hire additional county administration staff is not recommended or popular among Prince Georgians and is where decreases in the budget are recommended to occur.
No candidate is more active in opposition to hyper-scale data centers coming to Prince George's County than me. I am already taking measures to safeguard the County from the potential adverse impacts associated with the installation of data centers by testifying at county council meetings, planning board meetings, participating in public rallies, and speaking out in the media about the adverse impacts of data centers. Our activism helped lead to the existing County moratorium on data centers.
First and foremost, my land use/development plans for 6-Flags, Landover Mall, and FedEx Stadium will not include hyper-scale data centers. Residents of those respective locations have put forth desires including anything from family entertainment venues, upscale shopping centers, to high technology centers. I will continue to gather the most emerging-consistent ideas from residents of those areas, to better honor the will of the people who live in those areas.
Privileged to have served as a Student Resource Officer (SRO), police officer in the public school system, I experienced the impact that learning environment has toward the academic achievement of students, school safety, and student behavior. I will promote rewarding students for good behavior and promote scholarships based on legal behavior. The ranking of Prince George's County Public Schools and student test scores are intrinsically tied to learning environment. I would start there.
Prince George's County has the highest effective property taxes of all Maryland counties and one of the highest deficits. I would use the County's heritage designation CR-038-2025 to promote economic heritage tourism, jobs, needed revenue and strategy to decrease property taxes. Rather than unhealthy data centers that drive up energy costs, I am open to additional strategies to secure affordable housing, bring revenue, and decrease the practice of raising property taxes to balance the budget.
