I come from a proud family that have worked hard all their lives as sharecroppers, maids, and field hands. I saw that there was no one to advocate for them, and I took on that role at an early age. I've been involved with public service for as long as I can remember, and I want to carry on that work for you. We need improve our schools, make housing affordable, and advocate for community policing. With over two decades of government experience, I know what it takes to find solutions, navigate complicated issues and get things done. I've done it before and will do it again!
ISSUES AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY
Education
Support K-12 Public Schools
Local government budgets are strained and many school districts are facing budget cuts. Our public school system should never be on the chopping block, even when funding is tight.
Education in Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) sits at a crossroads between real progress and persistent structural challenges. On one hand, recent data shows academic gains, with improvements in reading and math and nearly three-quarters of schools receiving strong state ratings. This demonstrates that students in Prince George's County are capable of high achievement when given the right support. However, these gains are uneven, and too many students-especially in math and core subjects - continue to perform below expectations, highlighting deep inequities that still exist across the system.
One of the biggest issues facing education in the county is teacher retention and staffing shortages. Schools continue to struggle with unfilled positions, particularly in special education and high-need classrooms. High turnover, burnout, and lack of support have left some students without consistent instruction, directly impacting learning outcomes. In some cases, teachers are forced to cover multiple classes or give up planning time, weakening the quality of education. If Prince George’s County is serious about improving education, it must prioritize competitive salaries, better working conditions, and real classroom support to recruit and retain strong educators.
Equally concerning are issues of accountability and management within the system. Recent audits have revealed serious operational failures, including financial mismanagement, weak procurement practices, and lapses in employee oversight. At the same time, the school system faces ongoing budget uncertainty tied to state and local funding pressures. These problems undermine public trust and divert resources away from classrooms. Fixing education in Prince George’s County is not just about spending more money—it’s about ensuring that every dollar is managed effectively and transparently.
Economic Equity & Opportunity
The number one cause of crime anywhere in the world and even the United States, is poverty. Don't be confused about "those people", it is the lack of economic opportunity that drives crime and social unrest. We want to expand the economic pie in Prince George's County providing business opportunities and entrepreneurship. We will advocate for business enterprise zones, tax rebates, as well tax credits for all citizens to start businesses to lift themselves, their families, and their communities out of poverty.
Housing and Affordable Health Care as a Human Right
More than 10 million people are homeless in America or one paycheck away from being homeless. I too was homeless as a teenager and slept in abandoned cars when I was in the 11th and 12th grade, not because I was a bad kid, but because my family broke up and it was a struggle to keep a roof over our heads. I know the feeling of being ashamed, unclean, and hungry; it is debilitating. We need programs available to those less fortunate than ourselves, like rent control laws that help make housing more affordable. If we can subsidize multi-billion dollar corporations we can subsidize housing for the less fortunate among us.
I will fight for your dignity and your opportunities to succeed in life, and open doors for you and your families. The battle plan is laid before us, let us not retreat from this moment. With a roof over your head you will have one less worry about tomorrow. Believe me, I know from personal experience. I am with you!
Criminal Justice Reform
Ending misconduct by prosecutors, police violence and investing in people, not prisons private or otherwise is a major issue for me. Having spent 14 years in prison as an innocent man I can personally attest that the entire criminal justice system needs immediate reform. (Visit www.ONEINNOCENTMAN.ORG to learn more about my case).
People all over the country have risen in sustained mass protest against the police killing of George Floyd, as well as the killings of Breonna Taylor, Eric Gardner, Walter Scott, Philando Castile, Tony McDade, Ida Delaney, Ronell Foster, Jordan Edwards, Nathaniel Pickett II, Oscar Grant, Alton Sterling, and even a 12 year old child, Tamir Rice, as well as countless other people of color. We’ve also seen police commit acts of brutality against citizens exercising their constitutionally protected right of protesting, as well as assaults against essential workers on their way to work or on their way home during the COVID pandemic. It defies reason and logic for public officials to look the other way as their fellow citizens' constitutional rights are often violated. We must change the culture of policing in this country, as well as how misconduct is viewed. Officers pulling masks off citizens to pepper spray them, beating them with batons, running them over with a vehicle, shooting them in their backs and many more over reactions to non lethal situation than most. As a former Social Worker and Police Officer, I recognize that peoples' basic needs have to be met. That is when real safety and progress will take hold in a community.
Uprooting crime begins with economics. A job gives a person self-respect and purpose and can make all the difference in the trajectory of one's life. I will create economic opportunity grants for business startups and small businesses as we do for corporations. I will push for decriminalizing truancy and taking police out of schools. I will advocate for ending qualified immunity for egregious acts of police and prosecutor misconduct, with oversight boards to review police Internal Affairs decisions on misconduct. I will also support establishing a public national database that tracks all police officers decertified in any state or locality, to ensure transparency when the same officers seek employment in law enforcement elsewhere. I fully support repealing Maryland laws that make police disciplinary records and histories of misconduct secret, banning the use of tear gas and rubber bullets, and supporting quality-of-life policing.