Fundraisers starting early for county executive hopefuls

Leading candidates for 2010 run flush with cash

Baker, who challenged County Executive Jack B. Johnson last year, is also making the rounds in the community and working on a pet project — a new think tank — with other local leaders.

Jackson is taking college courses toward an undergraduate degree while revamping his department to better take on one of the county’s most visible social problems, domestic violence.

And Ivey has kept himself in the public eye as his office tackles a string of scandals involving county politicians.

All this could be leading up to what local officials assume will be a crowded, costly and competitive primary in 2010, when Johnson leaves office after serving the maximum of two terms.

‘‘It’s an open seat, so I expect a lot of people,” said Baker, who lost to Johnson by five points last year. ‘‘We’re prepared to raise $1.5 million [in 2010] ... I expect that that will be the standard — unless you have one million five, you’re not gonna play in this market.”

Baker is the only one on the short list who does not hold office and the inherent access to the public that it brings. But the former chairman of the county’s House delegation could be the most active candidate of the bunch.

Baker is raising money and holding small meetings with community members.

After losing the last executive race, the former delegate was briefly talked about as the next state treasurer. But incumbent Nancy K. Kopp was chosen for another term in February, dashing those hopes for Baker.

Baker never technically stopped campaigning. He closed his campaign office in February, but still keeps one assistant on staff to help handle calls from community members.

The evergreen candidate held a fundraiser June 6 in Bowie for about 50 supporters. He said the event put him on track to meet his fundraising goal of $200,000 by the end of the year.

He’s also working with his think tank, called the Prince George’s Progressive Institute, which held its first advisory group meeting June 4. It is co-chaired by outgoing Prince George’s Community College President Ronald Williams and former county executive Wayne Curry, who endorsed Baker in the last election.

The group is in its infancy and it’s not clear how it will try to implement policy changes in government, but Baker insisted the think tank is ‘‘not a political arm of Rushern Baker.” He said he would not be heavily involved with it once it gets off the ground.

Baker is also the executive director of the Landover-based Community Teachers Institute.

Politicians and activists say the momentum Baker gained in 2006 will carry him into the next county executive race in 2010, but that is his last shot at the job. If he runs, it will be his third try for the seat.

‘‘He would be the most likely candidate, absolutely,” said education activist Zalee Harris, who worked with Baker in the last campaign and attended the recent fundraiser. ‘‘He’s been there. This’ll be his third go-round. It’s definitely three strikes, you’re out ... but this is definitely his chance.”

Meanwhile, Jackson and Ivey are also raising money in anticipation of running for something in 2010. Neither faces term limits so either could use the money toward reelection.

But few in the political chattering class will suggest they’re gearing up for anything but the race for Johnson’s seat.

‘‘Running a countywide campaign should not be underestimated here,” said Sen. Douglas J.J. Peters (D-Dist. 23) of Bowie. ‘‘Glenn and Michael have both run two successful countywide campaigns.”

Jackson has held three fundraisers this year, and said he has about $150,000 on hand. He said he’s not sure what he’ll do with the money.

‘‘I’ve got an agency to run,” he said. ‘‘It’s premature [to talk about the county executive race] and I don’t think it’s right for me to be thinking about that this far out.”

Jackson, who has expanded a program where sheriff’s deputies respond to domestic violence 911 calls, has also been taking night classes at DeVry University in technical management this year. He’s about two semesters away from getting his bachelor’s degree and wants to get his master’s before 2010.

Whether that’s because he wants to be qualified for a job in the private sector or because he wants to be seen as a more polished competitor in the county executive race, he doesn’t say.

‘‘People can perceive it whichever way they want,” Jackson said.

Ivey, who is in his second term as state’s attorney, held a fundraiser June 14, and is planning another for July 16.

He had no comment for this article. But Ivey could have one of the trickiest jobs of any of the potential candidates for 2010.

‘‘He has the most difficult job of the three right now,” said Micah Watson, Cheverly councilman and county Democratic Central Committee member.

Ivey’s office is handling three controversial cases involving two public officials. Two have led to indictments: former homeland security deputy director Keith Washington was indicted on assault charges last week, and former school board member Nathaniel Thomas was indicted on sex charges one week earlier.

Washington is still under investigation for shooting two furniture deliverymen in January; one man later died. Ivey says the grand jury proceedings will not be rushed, but members of the community and attorneys in the case are questioning why the initial investigation has taken five months without charges being filed.

‘‘Glenn’s got the trickiest day job,” Watson said, adding that his leadership on the Thomas scandal boosted his public image.

He also said the college credits Sheriff Jackson is earning will probably help him in a bid for county executive.

Practically all six of the County Council members who face term limits are talked about for county executive as well. But they have been keeping their heads down in recent months, concentrating on passing next year’s $2.64 billion budget and fending off criticism that surfaced after they helped kill a long-term funding plan for the Prince George’s Hospital system. The council and Johnson later agreed to fund the hospital with county money for 15 months, providing more time for a solution to emerge.

Peters said he thinks they’re all potential candidates.

‘‘I think they’re all a possibility, and the question is whether two years from now, whether they’ll seriously consider it and take the plunge,” he said. ‘‘I think they’re all weighing their options right now ... November’s a long way away.”

The council members are Councilman Thomas Dernoga (D-Dist. 1) of Laurel, Councilman David Harrington (D-Dist. 5) of Cheverly, Councilman Samuel Dean (D-Dist. 6) of Mitchellville, Councilwoman Camille Exum (D-Dist. 7) of Seat Pleasant, Councilman Tony Knotts (D-Dist. 8) of Temple Hills and Councilwoman Marilynn Bland (D-Dist. 9) of Clinton.

Dernoga said he wanted to keep everyone in political circles guessing.

‘‘I have not ruled it out,” Dernoga said when asked of his interest in the county executive race at a recent fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Dist. 5) in Mitchellville.

Harrington has also hinted at a possible run.

‘‘I’m a term-limited councilman, and I have to weigh my options — and there are few that are available to me,” he said. ‘‘But I intend to stay in politics.”

E-mail Judson Berger at jberger@gazette.net.