Candidate for Lieutenant Governor Cites Immigrant Roots in Speech

By Ovetta Wiggins
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, December 15, 2005

House Majority Whip Anthony G. Brown , a rising star in the state Democratic Party, officially accepted Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley's offer to join his gubernatorial ticket as his running mate this week.

Brown addressed about 200 sign-waving supporters during an announcement Monday at Newton White Mansion in Mitchellville, Brown's hometown.

"I am proud to stand with you and accept your offer to serve as Maryland's next lieutenant governor and to serve as your partner when you, Martin O'Malley, become the next governor of the state of Maryland," said Brown, 44, to an audience that included his family and several colleagues from the county's legislative delegation.

O'Malley described Brown, a Harvard-educated lawyer and a colonel in the U.S. Army, as a hard-working and self-disciplined consensus-builder with a knack for "bringing people together to get things done -- a talent sorely missed in our state today."

Brown brings racial and geographic balance to O'Malley's ticket. As a leader in the House, he also brings a wealth of legislative experience.

Realizing that he may be relatively unknown in some parts of the state, Brown introduced himself as a "new face with some old-fashioned values" that were instilled in him by his immigrant parents. He said his father grew up in Jamaica and his mother was born in the foothills of the Swiss Alps. "I am so thankful and reminded more than ever, only in America would the son of immigrants have this opportunity to serve," Brown said.

He described his wife, Patricia , and children, Rebecca and Jonatha n , as "my foundation and my future."

During the campaign, Brown will concentrate on higher education, pushing to make college affordable for working families.

Among those attending the announcement were Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Prince George's), who introduced O'Malley and described the ticket as a "powerful partnership"; Derrick Green , Adrion Howell , Aisha Braveboy and Keith Washington , members of the Johnson administration; and Dels. Michael L. Vaughn , Dereck E. Davis , Joanne C. Benson , Veronica L. Turner , James E. Proctor Jr. and former colleague Rushern L. Baker III , who is running for county executive.

Another African Journey

County Executive Jack B. Johnson has headed overseas -- again.

He left Monday for a week-long trip to Gambia, in West Africa.

The purpose of the trip is to celebrate the completion of a house constructed through a partnership between the Gambian government and a Prince George's County company.

Kwasi Holman , the EDC's president, Patricia Hayes-Parker , its vice president, and several county employees accompanied Johnson.

During a trip earlier this year, BTI Construction & Supply, a Lanham-based company, signed a $46 million agreement to build houses in Gambia.

Holman said such trips are designed to boost trade and investment in the county and to expand opportunities for county businesses, which, he said, results in a stronger tax base.

"We have 11 companies that have active relations with the Gambia, and we're trying to expand and solidify those relationships," Holman said.

Holman said Johnson will only be traveling to Gambia. However, several others on the trip will also go to Senegal, where they will deliver medical supplies, Holman said. In March, a county delegation went to Gambia and Senegal.

The trip is estimated to cost $2,000 per person, Holman said.

In May, The Washington Post requested a breakdown of the expenses incurred during Johnson's last trip to Africa. Under the law, the request is supposed to be answered in 30 days. The county Office of Law has not provided the information. Last month, a county attorney said the information was still being put together.

This week, Denise Roberts , a spokesman for the county executive's office, said the March trip cost $42,000.

Johnson postponed a 10-day excursion to China in October after concerns were raised about avian flu.

County officials say that trip may be rescheduled for spring.

Hendershot Recuperating

Council member Thomas R. Hendershot (D-New Carrollton) is recovering at home after undergoing carotid artery surgery last week.

Hendershot missed the council's meeting on Dec. 6, which included the exchange of the gavel ceremony, because he was previously scheduled for the procedure, which is intended to help prevent strokes and restore adequate blood flow to the brain. He stayed in the hospital overnight following the operation.

Hendershot, 61, suffered a stroke in 1992 and last year underwent quadruple bypass surgery.

He is expected to return to his council office next month. The full council is on recess until then.

"I'm looking forward to returning in January," Hendershot said in a statement. "I'll continue to be a vigorous advocate for a progressive Prince George's County."

Report Looks at Adult Clubs

During their December break, Council Council members will begin poring over a report about adult entertainment businesses operating in the county.

The council hired Gentile-Meinert & Associates, a Pennsylvania-based firm, for $20,000 to conduct a three-month study of adult businesses in the county and advise the council on possible legislation to crack down on them.

According to the contract, Gentile-Meinert was to have researched the ownership of adult businesses, including any civil or criminal histories and any connection to organized crime. The company also was to have examined the impact on real estate values, criminal activity in the surrounding areas and "whether or not the business in question creates an atmosphere of deviance."

Gentile-Meinart recently completed its work, according to Karen Campbell , a spokeswoman for the council. But the council has not reviewed the report yet.

Former chairman Samuel H. Dean (D-Mitchellville) said council members plan to consider legislation next year to address the licensing of adult businesses, particularly makeshift strip clubs that have cropped up in recent years in the county.

Prince George's has long been home to strip clubs such as the Stardust Inn and the Hangar Club, but increasingly it has also become home to clubs operating out of warehouses and garages that charge patrons for admission.

Last week, on the last day of the 2005 session, the council introduced legislation to make it easier for the county to shut down nightclubs considered to be a public nuisance. Dean said the bill, which allows county inspectors, police officers or firefighters to shut down certain establishments on the spot, could help in the county's effort to rein in the number of adult businesses, too.

"This legislation is paramount to public safety in Prince George's County," said Johnson, who proposed the legislation. "It will allow us to immediately close down a facility that is operating outside the range of its use and occupancy permit and one that poses an imminent danger to the safety of the citizens and residents of Prince George's County."