Greenbelt election guide
The Greenbelt City Council elections will be held from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 3, and residents can vote at the community center, police department, Springhill Lake Recreation Center, Greenbriar Terrace room or Turning Point Academy. The top seven vote getters will be named to the council. Candidate Kelly P Ivy Sr. did not respond to questions by deadline.
City Council candidates
Judith F. Davis
Konrad Herling
Emmett V. Jordan
Leta M. Mach
Silke I. Pope>
Edward V. J. Putens
Rodney M. Roberts
Che Sayles
Name: Judith F. Davis
Age: 67
Place of Birth: Atlanta
Current occupation: Retired teacher
Education: Graduate of York Suburban High School, York PA; Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Education degrees, West Chester University, West Chester PA.
Community Associations: Friends of the Greenbelt Museum, Greenbelt Lions, Greenbelt Arts Center, Greenbelt Intergenerational Volunteer Exchange Service, Greenbelt Golden Age Club, Purple Line Now, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt Democratic Club. Former Greenbriar Condominium Board member.
Campaign telephone number: 301-345-3243
What issues would you advance as a council member?
My working relationships developed over time with elected municipal, county, state and regional leaders enable me to effectively promote Greenbelt's vision and successfully advocate for the needs of our citizens.
What measures do you support to get more residents involved in city politics?
I proposed a Candidates' Forum for Greenbelt West, plus I encouraged citizen groups to help register voters and get out the vote. I will speak to voters at their doors.
Do you feel you're able to represent all Greenbelt residents?
Yes, absolutely, as demonstrated by my work and activities while on the City Council for 16 years and before that while serving on city and civic committees.
What do you propose to make residents of Greenbelt safer from crime?
I will continue supporting the outreach programs and patrols our police department currently performs, ensuring that our officers have the training and equipment they require to be efficient and effective.
How important is it to get Greenbelt Middle School constructed in a timely manner?
The city has waited years for a new middle school. Further delay is inexcusable if full funding is available. The existing historic building must also be renovated and appropriately utilized.
Age: 52
Place of birth: Cincinnati
Current occupation: Independent contractor/consultant - marketing and communications services for non-profits, associations, and other organizations.
Education: Studied liberal arts and music at Morehouse College in Atlanta and at the University of Cincinnati. Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Administration from the School of Design Art, Architecture and Planning at the University of Cincinnati.
Community associations: Board Member - City of Greenbelt's Advisory Planning Board; Treasurer - Greenbriar Condominium Association, Phase 1; Co-Chair - Greenbelt Community Foundation; Vice President - Eleanor & Franklin Roosevelt Democratic Club. Volunteer with the Greater Washington Urban League, Greenbelt Neighbors Alliance and the Transit Riders United of Greenbelt.
Family: Single
Campaign telephone number: 301-220-1025
Web site: www.jordanforgreenbelt.org
What issues would you advance as a council member?
Our quality of life depends on creative stewardship of resources. Build the tax base, green our economy, improve public transportation. Let's improve relations between neighborhoods and with commercial Greenbelt.
What measures do you support to get more residents involved in city politics?
Continued outreach and election-related events (forums) in Greenbelt West. Early voting (weekends and evening) and other accommodations for commuters and single parents. Help Empirian Villagers feel they are Greenbelters.
Do you feel you're able to represent all Greenbelt residents?
I know the neighborhoods of Greenbelt well enough to represent all Greenbelters. I am running because I want to keep Greenbelt a great place to live, work and visit.
What do you propose to make residents of Greenbelt safer from crime?
Better communication technology, call boxes and cameras are planned. Increased police visibility is needed. Community policing and other approaches to build trust between public safety officials and residents are important.
How important is it to get Greenbelt Middle School constructed in a timely manner?
Our children deserve facilities that support learning. A new middle school is long overdue. I will struggle with our county and state representatives to keep project funding on track. Increased police visibility is needed.
Age: 62
Place of birth: Detroit
Current occupation: Retired director of cooperative communications and education for the National Cooperative Business Association/Jafra health and beauty consultant
Education: Graduate of Bladensburg High School; B.A. in history from Michigan State University; Graduate of the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance
Community associations: Maryland Vice Chair, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Air Quality Committee; Board Member, Clean Air Partners; Member, National League of Cities Human Development Steering Committee; Member, Maryland Municipal League Communications Committee; Board Member, Greenbelt Community Foundation; Secretary, Prince George's Elected Municipal Women
Family: Husband Darrell; son Ryan; daughter Amy; four granddaughters
Campaign telephone number: 301-345-8105
Web site: http://web.me.com/letamach
What issues would you advance as a council member?
While I believe we all support a new Greenbelt Middle School, I am also working on turning the historic portion of the school into a "community school" that provides many social services.
What measures do you support to get more residents involved in city politics?
Enhancement of what the city is doing: a Greenbelt City Newsletter delivered to all city addresses, signs promoting city events, activities in the schools and parks. And promotion of citizenship.
Do you feel you're able to represent all Greenbelt residents?
Yes.
What do you propose to make residents of Greenbelt safer from crime?
Continue partnerships with Beltway Plaza and Empirian Village that provide funding for police officers. Work with Empirian Village on crime prevention. Continue to target crime "hot spots" to ensure zero tolerance of crime.
How important is it to get Greenbelt Middle School constructed in a timely manner?
Very Important. It has been on the Capital Improvement Program for 22 years and delayed for various reasons. It is the oldest middle school in the county and students deserve better.
Age: 45
Place of birth: Germany
Current occupation: Parent Liaison Prince George's County Schools
Education: Degree in Hotel Business Management / Home Economics (Germany)
Community associations: Greenbelt Public Safety Advisory Committee 2000-present, Chair since 2003. American Legion Auxiliary Unit 136 Greenbelt 2000-present, past president two terms. Belle Point HOA since 2003-present, Chair past three years. Neighborhood Improvement Team-Springhill Lake. Member St. Hugh's Catholic Church, member of fundraising committee.
Professional associations: Maryland State Teachers Association
Family: Husband, Joseph W. Pope; son, Matthew Pope; daughter Melanie Pope
Campaign telephone number: 240-603-6984
Web site: http://home.comcast.net/~silke4council
What issues would you advance as a council member?
As a strong public safety advocate, I would work hard to implement a gang task force in the city. We need to be better educated, prepared and pro-active in this area.
What measures do you support to get more residents involved in city politics?
For those eligible to vote, but not registered, an intensive outreach is needed utilizing the schools, sites of worship, recreation centers and other places where people gather.
Do you feel you're able to represent all Greenbelt residents?
Absolutely! I'll eagerly serve all residents without regard to race or ethnicity, just as I do daily, working in our public schools.
What do you propose to make residents of Greenbelt safer from crime?
I'm a longtime advocate for more public safety resources including surveillance cameras, emergency call boxes, and the implementation of a gang task force. It is also essential that our police department be provided with well-maintained equipment.
How important is it to get Greenbelt Middle School constructed in a timely manner?
I work at Greenbelt Middle School; I know the importance firsthand. We must have a quality facility where teachers can help students learn. Our children deserve a clean, functional and safe environment.
Age: 63
Place of birth: Hazelton, Penn.
Current occupation: U. S. Food and Drug Administration, Manager
Education: Bachelor's degree, University of Maryland; Microbiology
Community associations: Greenbelt East Advisory Committee (GEAC), President. Greenbrook Estates H.O.A., Four Cities Coalition, Friends of the Greenbelt Museum, Greenbelt Arts Center, Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt Democratic Club. At the National level; National League of Cities(NLC), Public Safety and Crime Prevention Committee, the Small Cities Council, and formerly the Finance & Administration and Intergovernmental Relations. Member of the regional Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments (COG), Human Resources and Public Safety Policy Committee, Prince George's County Municipal Association, and the Maryland Municipal League.
Family: Three children, Kim, Ryan and Amy; two grandchildren, Alexandra and Nicholas.
Campaign telephone number: 301-474-4418
What issues would you advance as a council member?
I have always been the anti-crime council member. I have initiated important changes over the years. Right now, my priority is installing surveillance cameras in additional locations, especially Empirian Village.
What measures do you support to get more residents involved in city politics?
The council voted to expand council from five to seven. It adopted measures to allow early voting and voting by mail. It expanded its outreach efforts through a city newsletter.
Do you feel you're able to represent all Greenbelt residents?
I do represent all residents regardless of race and always have. I have not forgotten that before election to council I chaired the Community Relations Advisory Board.
What do you propose to make residents of Greenbelt safer from crime?
There is a problem with violent robberies, especially at Empirian Village. Surveillance cameras are one answer. Rebuilding Empirian Village is the larger solution.
How important is it to get Greenbelt Middle School constructed in a timely manner?
The county has already failed to get it constructed in a timely manner. We have been waiting for years. We desperately need the new school, followed by better education results.
Place of residence: Greenbelt
Age: 51
Place of birth: Riverdale
Current occupation: Sole proprietor -- RMR Mobile Repairs
Education: 1975 graduate National Technical Institute College Park, MD
Community associations: Greenbelt City Council 18 years, member COG team planning board, former chair CSGB
Family: Wife, Tara Roberts
Campaign telephone number: 240-375-4947
What issues would you advance as a council member?
Strong independent leadership that insists on fair, open, honest government that is responsive to and inclusive of all the citizens of Greenbelt.
What measures do you support to get more residents involved in city politics?
For the past 20 years I have been working very hard to encourage participation in our City Government. I campaign in every part of the city. I not only deliver a brochure to every registered voter, but to many unregistered citizens as well, in the hope of sparking an interest and participation in the issues effecting our city.
Do you feel you're able to represent all Greenbelt residents?
Yes, for the past 18 years I have represented all of the citizens of Greenbelt. The qualities that are inherent to our planned community are not exclusively beneficial to any race, creed, religion or sex. I believe they benefit everyone who chooses to live, work, or recreate in Greenbelt.
What do you propose to make residents of Greenbelt safer from crime?
Public safety is my No. 1 priority. For the past 20 years I have worked to get more police officers on the street in every part of our city. I have also fought for better social services and more recreation and educational opportunities, especially in Greenbelt West where I know they are lacking.
How important is it to get Greenbelt Middle School constructed in a timely manner?
The completion of Greenbelt Middle School is vital to maintain and improve the quality of life in Greenbelt.
Age: 34
Place of birth: Pennsylvania
Current occupation: Department of Environmental Resources
Education: Degree in Political Science Howard University
Community Associations: President of the Greenbelt West Residents Association, member of the Transit Riders United of Greenbelt, member of the Greenbelt Climate Action Network, member Chesapeake Education Arts Research Society, Greenbelt Community Church.
Family: Wife, Kanija Sayles, two sons, Mason and Maximus Sayles
Campaign telephone number: 240-604-2064
Web site: www.chesaylesforcouncil.com
What issues would you advance as a council member?
The issue I would advance that would not be accomplished if I were not elected is Sunday bus service. It is reported by the U.S. Census Bureau that 1092 households are without vehicles in Greenbelt. Sunday bus service will allow more options for bus riders to attend worship services, visit doctors and hospitals, and complete other vital transportation needs.
What measures do you support to get more residents involved in city politics?
There are just as many registered voters in Empirian Village than there is across the city. The only difference is that these residents have been voting for candidates at the state and federal level, but not the local level. Voter education and outreach is the key to greater participation.
Do you feel you're able to represent all Greenbelt residents?
Yes. I feel like I can represent all residents of Greenbelt regardless of race because I have a degree in political science from Howard University, worked for Maryland State Senator Paul Pinsky and previously served as a legislative intern in the Executive Office of the President during the Clinton administration.
What do you propose to make residents of Greenbelt safer from crime?
Greenbelt West is a highly valued part of our community. To further enhance the City of Greenbelt, I would offer a choice of housing in Greenbelt West to include home ownership, less density, and plenty of green space for residents to enjoy.
How important is it to get Greenbelt Middle School constructed in a timely manner?
It is very important for me to get Greenbelt Middle School constructed in a timely manner. I believe that every Greenbelt resident would like to know that every child regardless of where they live are receiving a quality education in a first rate public facility. The timely completion of Greenbelt Middle School would secure this desire for the Greenbelt community.
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