More News

Marlton resident Mel Franklin, an assistant attorney general for the state of Maryland, and Tamara Davis Brown, a Clinton community activist and lawyer, will both run for the Prince George's County Council's District 9 seat in 2010.

The district includes Accokeek, Andrews Air Force Base, Aquasco, Baden, Brandywine, Camp Springs, Cheltenham, Clinton, Croom, Eagle Harbor, Fort Washington, Piscataway and parts of Upper Marlboro.

The District 9 seat is currently held by Chairwoman Marilynn Bland (D) of Clinton, who was elected in 2002. Term limits prevent Bland and other members in their second term from returning to the council after their term ends in 2010, according to the county's charter.

Bland could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.

Both Franklin and Brown announced their candidacy May 14 at a Brandywine Neighborhood Coalition meeting.

Brown, 43, who ran unsuccessfully for the House of Delegates in Dist. 27A in 2006, said at the meeting she plans to visit civic association and community meetings throughout south county in the next year, listening to residents' concerns and ideas for a more interactive community.

Brown, who has yet to kickoff campaigning, told residents of her planned run at the May 14 meeting, but could not be reached for further comment. She declined to answer a reporter's questions about her run during a May 18 Town Hall meeting in Clinton.

Clinton resident Betty Taylor, president of the Surratts Garden Community Association, said she is hoping the district candidates will not only listen but also be responsive to resident concerns, especially in the areas of infrastructure, public safety and public schools, she said.

"I'm looking for someone who would put the county ahead of special interests and ahead of developers," Taylor said. "The infrastructure is lagging way behind development."

Taylor, a member of the coffee club for police District 5, said Brown frequently comes to Wednesday morning meetings and updates the group on new legislation and upcoming meetings and events.

"She has been very active in the Democratic club and with following through on legislation," Taylor said. "She gives the best she can to have best legislation passed."

Both candidates have been active in local politics. Brown is president of both the Windbrook Area Citizens Association and the Surratts-Clinton Democratic Club, and Franklin founded the Greater Marlboro Democratic Club in 2005.

Brown's work with the Surratts-Clinton Democratic Club included sponsoring the Young Democrats Club at Gwynn Park High School, which teaches students about young leadership. In November, Brown helped the Young Democrats Club volunteer at the polls at Gwynn Park Middle School and organized a trip to Capitol Hill for the students last year.

Franklin, 33, said he saw a need for community engagement and began looking for interest in an area Democratic club in 2005, adding that nearly four years later the club has more than 50 members. "Residents are frustrated that the leadership of the county is not giving them ways to voice their concerns and have their interests addressed," Franklin said in an interview Friday.

"I believe the communities in District 9 are hungry for dramatic change in their County Council leadership."

As a member of Prince George's County Community College's Board of Trustees and the father of a 2-year-old, Franklin said education is a top priority.

Henry G. Ferguson PTA member Denise Foskey of Accokeek said Franklin has attended several PTA meetings to become familiar with funding issues in south county schools, and she said it has been refreshing to see a non-Accokeek resident get involved in the fight for a new area elementary school.

"He has reached out to us instead of us reaching out to him," Foskey said.

E-mail Megan McKeever at mmckeever@gazette.net.