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Sherry James-Strother (D) of Landover, a nurse supervisor for the Prince George's County Health Department, said that if she is elected to the House of Delegates for District 24, she will focus on making class sizes smaller, stabilizing the Prince George's County Health Center in Cheverly and fostering economic development around Metro stations.

"I am not a politician. I am a person [who] has lived in Prince George's County for the past 27 years," said James-Strother, who filed to run for the delegate seat July 1. "I know I can make a difference within my community.

District 24 includes Landover, Fairmount Heights, Capitol Heights, Seat Pleasant, District Heights, Temple Hills, Suitland and Glenarden.

The delegate seats for the district are currently held by Democrats Joanne Benson of Landover, Carolyn J.B. Howard of Mitchellville and Michael L. Vaughn of Mitchellville.

Benson will vacate her delegate seat to run for state Senate for District 24. Howard and Vaughn filed for re-election April 26 for the district's three open delegate seats. The filing deadline was July 6. Primary elections are scheduled for Sept. 14, and the general election is scheduled for Nov. 2.

District 24 candidates also include Tiffany Alston of Mitchellville, Nancy Dixon-Saxon of Fairmount Heights, Greg Hall of Chapel Oaks, Clayton Aarons of Springdale, Michael Oputa of Glenn Dale, Byron Richardson of District Heights and Kenneth Williams of Mitchellville.

"I think people should elect me because I do understand what the problems are in the county. I have the experience," James-Strother said. "I don't have all the answers. I will look at the system, then develop a plan around it. I know how to tease out the problems."

To increase student performance, James-Strother said she would work to decrease classroom sizes so all students receive adequate attention from their teachers.

"It's not that you necessarily need more space or anything like that. Sometimes it is the design of the classroom itself. Maybe put more partitions in place," James-Strother said.

James-Strother said she does not know where the money for additional teachers would come from, but would examine the budget and the efficiency of the Prince George's County Public Schools system.

"I would go in and make sure [the school system budget is] operating efficiently," she said.

James-Strother she said she wants to see the Prince George's Hospital Center in Cheverly stabilized and the facility become a teaching hospital.

"That hospital has been in limbo for many, many years. It's a big concern for county residents who use that facility," James-Strother said. "We cannot lose that hospital."

Although she does not have an immediate plan of action, James-Strother said that if elected, she would meet with members of the Prince George's County Hospital Authority, a committee previously tasked with selling the county-owned hospital system, to find out where the problem has been in finding a buyer and work to find a buyer.

If elected, James-Strother said she also would work to bring mixed-use development — retail, businesses and homes — to transit systems and encourage state and federal agencies to relocate to these centers.

"What I would love to see happen is to build up the infrastructure to keep our residents inside the Beltway, to keep our residents closer to home," James-Strother said.

One way to lure potential developers to the county is to have the county permits process be speedy and efficient, James-Strother said.

To ensure that developers receive their permits quickly, James-Strother said she would work with the Prince George's County Permits and Review Group, which reviews and approves permits and plans for residential and commercial construction, to make sure the permits process if efficient.

District Heights resident Virga Wood, 56, said she supports James-Strother because of her compassion.

"She cares about people, and I think that she would be the best person for the job, and trust me, I never get involved in politics," said Wood, whose cancer-stricken husband, Steven, 66, received health insurance from the county's health department through James-Strother. "I just think that she could do a lot of good because she is very caring."

Bola Salu, 38, of Upper Marlboro said James-Strother is capable and an asset.

"I would support her all the way only because of the experience I've had with her. I know she's very capable and knowledgeable," said Salu, a registered nurse for the county's health department. "She gets things done; she's not full of talk."

Position sought, party affiliation: Maryland House of Delegates, District 24; Democrat

Place of residence: Landover

How long lived in county: 27 years

Age: 53

Place of birth: Washington, D.C.

Current occupation: Registered nurse, nurse supervisor for the Prince George's County Health Department

Education: Associate's degree in nursing from Prince George's Community College in Largo, 1981; Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., 1996

Community associations, involvement: Founder of the nonprofit organization the Prince George's County HIV/AIDS Stakeholders Inc.; member of League of Women Voters of the United States

Professional associations: Member of the Baltimore chapter of Association of Nurses and AIDS Care

Family: married; three children

Campaign office address and telephone: 7208 East Forest Road, Landover, MD 20785; 202-341-0735; sstrother@verizon.net