How has Rushern Baker done Thus Far? (Fort Washington, New Carrollton: 2014, apartment)

[justtitans]

What is your evaluation of the job he has done?

I can point out some positive, some negative and some questionable aspects of his administration.

Positive:

• He has lead the lowering of crime across the board. Even though crime isn't as low as compared to neighboring counties, it is considerably lower and has dropped consistently since he has been in office.

• Hiring more police officers and helping create a new station in Fort Washington. He recognized the need for the county to have more officers, so he increased the number of officers completing the academy each year, which subsequently increases the police force. The building of the new station helped relieve the load on an over burden district 4 station.

• He has worked towards making Prince George's County a viable place for retailers to come by attracting new businesses like Harris Teeter, Whole Foods (proposed), Tanger Outlets, etc.

Negative:

• Hasn't made significant progress on the job front. Despite the soon-to-be added headquarters of DHCD of Maryland in New Carrollton, there was a lost of 400+ federal government jobs to West Virginia and not significant additions from the private sector side.

• Even though he has little control over the school system (which is likely soon to change), the school system has been slow to make positive progression. Schools improving was a large part of his campaign and he has struggled with having influence over the system.

Controversies:

• Casinos: In spite of campaigning largely that he would not support bringing casinos to Prince George's County, he later changed his mind and supported the idea of a casino, which will likely be located at the National Harbor, because he believed it would bring jobs, tax revenue and boost funding for schools. Rumors of corruption, backroom deals ran rampant and a strong contingency of residents have push for referendums and lawsuits to stop the deal, but all efforts have fallen short.
• Schools Takeover: In spite of also campaigning not to change the school system and to give the system a shot with the status quo, Baker's turbulent relationship with the School Board prompted him to push for reform, in the means of allowing him to have more power over the system, and ultimately selecting the next schools' superintendent. The writing may have already been on the wall when he hired an education liaison to keep tabs and act as a specialist for Baker to keep Baker abreast to decision made to education. His proposal is due to go into law on June 1st, but may be upheld into a referendum vote if opponents are able to get 8,000 signature verified as of May 29th and 24,000 signatures by the June 30th deadline

Thoughts? Things you would add on?

[armory]

Do you really think it to be a good thing to put the entire school system in the county executive's hands when there is already a political process to select one? That will effectively put an end to that democratic process of government. If this is to be, it sets precedence and will be hard to derail. This will mean the end of names of schools as they will become PS "whatever number".
Welcome to the PGC Mcpublic school system.

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by armory

Do you really think it to be a good thing to put the entire school system in the county executive's hands when there is already a political process to select one? That will effectively put an end to that democratic process of government. If this is to be, it sets precedence and will be hard to derail. This will mean the end of names of schools as they will become PS "whatever number".
Welcome to the PGC Mcpublic school system.

Some people think it's great because it's a chance to fix a school system that has long been flawed, but honestly there are no guarantees that this will be successful. If anything as a voter I would offended that your power has been taken away to control your school system and that you have to put your faith in one person to put the right people in place instead of you being part of a democratic process to put the right people in place. I agree that ending the democratic process seems almost anti-American.

[armory]

Originally Posted by pgtvatitans

seems almost anti-American.

Seems? What if your right to vote for president was taken away and that selection given to congress to make?
Since schools are not enumerated in the Constitution they are a state or individual matter. The state's constitution determines how schools are to be managed/operated. Private schools are quite popular. How many kids are home schooled? More than you might think.
Why is there a US Department of Education, under DHHS, when each state has it's own Department of Education? That's rather redundant, no?
The selection of school superintendents could be made by the governor of a state rather than through an election process. Whether or not the county executive has the power to do so is, and most likely will be, a matter for the courts to decide and should prove to be interesting to observe.

[North Beach Person]

The results of the poll so far show that Prince George's chronically sets the bar low.

[armory]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

The results of the poll so far show that Prince George's chronically sets the bar low.

Strange enough, I think most would be happy to burn the county to the ground and build anew.

[justtitans]

Rushern Baker kicks off 2014 bid for reelection in Prince George’s County - The Washington Post

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III kicked off his 2014 reelection campaign Thursday evening, telling about 500 supporters at a private fundraiser that his record of reform has begun to lift the county out of bureaucratic stagnation and political corruption. But he said he needed a second term to complete ambitious plans to streamline government, revamp the school system and transform the county into an economic engine.

.....

Baker’s most recent campaign finance report, filed early this year, showed that his campaign treasury had about $262,000 in cash on hand and owed about $800,000, much of it to a company that is an arm of Southern Management, an apartment management company whose chief executive is a longtime Baker supporter.

[EdwardA]

I like him he is about business and not flash. I hope he is re-elected.