Prince George’s County, Md. – Jolene Ivey hopes to win a new position on the local county council this fall, but she’s also looking beyond that to another possible promotion . . . to the role of Prince George’s County Executive.
The current occupant of that job, Angela Alsobrooks, is busy running in a heated race for the U.S. Senate. Ivey is thinking ahead.
“If Angela Alsobrooks wins, then I’m planning to run for her seat,” Ivey told Capital News Service in an exclusive interview. “I’ve been clear about that. I haven’t been secretive.”
In a conversation with CNS, Ivey said she wants Alsobrooks to win the senate race and for Kamala Harris to take the presidency, and she’s helping to rally support for both.
“Both those things are important to me,” Ivey said. “They impact our ability to live in a free society, in a democracy, and I don’t even think that I’m overstating that.”
It’s a rare moment in Prince George’s, Maryland’s second-most populous county. The political stars are realigning following the resignation of Mel Franklin, who resigned from his position as one of the two at-large county council members in June. He later pleaded guilty to theft and perjury charges.
As the Democratic nominee for his position, Ivey seems likely to win the at-large seat.
Ivey said that the role, representing the entire county as opposed to just one district, would give her a “county-wide perch.” She would be able to focus on advancing issues that are important for the entire county through the legislative tools available to the council.
But first she has to defeat her Republican rival, Michael Riker. If she and Alsobrooks succeed on Nov. 5, Prince George’s County will face a series of elections that could cost a pretty penny.
Strong schools, safe neighborhoods, new development
Ivey’s resume is lengthy. Ivey worked as press secretary to then-Representative Ben Cardin (1988-89) and was a member of the House of Delegates (2007-2015). She also made a run for lieutenant governor in 2014, falling short during the Democratic primaries. In 2018 she was elected to represent District 5 on the Prince George’s County Council, where she’s been since. She assumed the role of chair in December 2023.
Among many other activities, she co-founded Mocha Moms, a nationwide support group, with other mothers of color.
Her political platform is one of strong schools, safe neighborhoods and new development, according to her campaign’s website.
Ivey points to the Universal Design legislation she sponsored in 2023 as one she’s excited about implementing soon. Half of new homes built after January 2026, with some exceptions, are supposed to be accessible to people with disabilities.
“They will have to have ‘zero entry,’ so that you don’t have a stair that you have to navigate to get into the house,” said Ivey who, according to her, refitted her own home to accommodate elderly parents.
The bill was designed to support elderly and disabled residents as well as people who want to age in place. Ivey said she’s also excited about increasing electric vehicle charging stations, expediting the hiring process of firefighters and adding more cameras to deter littering.
But Ivey’s current bid coincides with recent electoral challenges the council is trying to overcome.
A chain-reaction power vacuum
Franklin’s resignation created a political power vacuum
If Ivey wins the seat, someone would need to replace her as the District 5 representative. At least two people are already campaigning for that.
If Alsobrooks also wins the Senate seat, someone would need to replace Alsobrooks as county executive, and two members of the council have signaled a desire to do so.
If either of those members were to win Alsobrooks’ potentially open seat, someone would need to fill that vacancy as well.
The potentially dizzying line-up of special elections prompted council members to create emergency bills to deal with timing issues – elections would have to take place in specific time windows to be compliant with state election law – and the hefty costs of the special elections.
But the council tabled the bills after hearing concerns during an Oct. 8 council meeting that the measures could be vulnerable to legal challenge.
“I was concerned that we needed to make sure that we don’t put this election in jeopardy by having conflict with state law,” said Council Member Wala Blegay.
Blegay backed another Democrat during the primary but now supports Ivey.
Ivey’s current rival, Republican Riker, said that a vote for Ivey is a vote for more of the same – another Democrat. But Ivey believes she can make a positive difference.
“You can make such an impact on people’s lives in a good way,” she said. “I think that I bring a pretty common-sense, straightforward approach to things, and I’m willing to take on tough issues.”
Whether she does it on the council or in a different position at the county, Ivey said she loves working closely with people to help meet their needs.
“I think that our current executive has done that well,” said Ivey about Alsobrooks, “and I would like to continue and hopefully exceed.”
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