CLINTON, MD — Tamara Davis Brown has entered the race for Prince George's County Council District 9. Patch posed questions to each candidate running for office.
Below you will find Brown's responses, verbatim:
Name: Tamara Davis Brown
Place of resident: Clinton
Political Affiliation: Democrat
Email address: tamara@tamaradavisbrown.org
Campaign website/Facebook page: www.tamaradavisbrown.org and https://www.facebook.com/tamaradavisbrown
Do you have any previous political experience? If so, please state and explain how that experience will influence your time in office if elected. No
What do you believe is the single-most important issue facing voters in the district you’re looking to represent? How do you intend to address those issues?
The single most important issue facing District 9 voters is over development. They are tired of seeing new townhome communities but no infrastructure to accompany the growth. I will address this issue like I have been doing as an ordinary citizen - holding developers accountable to build new roads and make financial commitments to bring amenities to our communities. I have been doing this with our neighbors for 20+ years as a community advocate.
How do you differ from other candidates running against you?
I am the only candidate that has over 2 decades of experience delivering results for our communities. I have consistently advocated for quality of life improvements like stopping an unwanted Walmart to get a family-friendly, family-oriented Top Golf instead.
How would your work experience benefit the goals/objectives you’ve outlined in your campaign and/or the office you’re seeking?
As an attorney, I have legislative and policy experience. Alongside our labor unions, I have successfully lobbied for working families in the Fight for $15 minimum wage and paid family medical leave.
What is your opinion of the work being done by the current office holder, and how will you improve on it?
If that is you - how do you plan to continue improving upon what you've already accomplished? I plan to provide better constituent services to our residents so that they will feel seen and heard. We will have a dashboard to track their requests to completion and consistently hold monthly and quarterly meetings to keep residents informed. I will continue my weekly email newsletters to update resident. What I will do differently the most is to seek residents input on the various bills before the County Council.
How do you feel about the school system in your area and what improvements would you like to see be made?
PGCPS needs to expand what is working best - its specialty programs and make them more available in our community schools. Parents and scholars should be able to receive TAG curriculum in every community school. We also need to provide more resources for students with learning or other disabilities. We can collaborate with MNCPPC for after-school tutoring and programs.
How do you feel about crime in your area and what steps can be taken to reduce it?
Crime in District 9 is actually lower than in other Districts in the County. We must recruit, train, hire and retain more officers for patrolling our communities. The surcharges that developers pay for public safety and mental health must stay in the District where the new housing developments are built so those resources are available to hire more officers for that district.
What do you think about the economic climate and business sector in your community, and what initiatives could propel it forward?
We definitely need to attract more businesses. My plan is to expand on the Medical Innovation District(s) (MIDs) coming to District 9 at Medstar Southern Maryland Hospital so they are operating throughout the County and add a nutrition component utilizing our local farmers to bring farm to table dining at the MIDs
How do you feel about transportation options in the area and what, if anything, should be improved upon?
I support the ongoing work to bring the Southern Maryland Rapid Transit from Charles County to Branch Avenue metro station. My preference is to have the more expensive light rail option but I would like to see the retrofit for light rail and use bus rapid transit if the state's budget cannot support light rail now. I also want to see the Metro over the Wilson Bridge as currently retrofitted. We need to get as many cars off the road.
What else would you like voters to know about you?
Voters should know that I ran for this position previously and lost by only 55 votes. However, I never stopped working and advocating on behalf of our communities and achieving positive results like securing funding for the Southern Area Aquatic and Recreational Center (SAARC in Brandywine). I am endorsed by the Teachers' Union (PGCEA) even though we have the former District 9 School Board representative in the race. I am also endorsed by the Working Families Party and other labor unions.
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