Prince George's on the Cusp

A key election for the county's future

OF THE BIG THREE suburban jurisdictions in this region -- Fairfax, Montgomery and Prince George's counties -- only Prince George's stands at anything resembling the cusp of an uncertain future. Failing schools, chilling crime statistics and weak political leadership have raised doubts in a county that, by rights, should be brimming with promise. To realize that promise, Prince George's, home to the country's largest suburban concentration of well-heeled, well-educated African Americans, needs savvy, forward-thinking and imaginative elected officials. With them, the county could live up to its residents' hopes for better schools, safer neighborhoods and quality economic development.

As we have noted, a major step in the right direction would be electing Rushern L. Baker III as county executive. Early on, Mr. Baker's chances of defeating the lackluster incumbent, Jack B. Johnson, were rated as slim. Lately the buzz in the county has changed, not least because Mr. Baker was endorsed by Wayne K. Curry, a former Prince George's County executive. The apparent shift is heartening: Nothing would do more to recast Prince George's image and send forth the news that it had turned a corner than a Baker victory. Mr. Baker, who was widely respected as a state lawmaker in Annapolis for eight years, has the potential to run a clean, efficient, transparent administration. He has the judgment, character and sound instincts to modernize Prince George's government and attract A-list employers and jobs to the county.

A reminder of Mr. Johnson's poor judgment is the candidacy of one of his loyalists, Keith Washington, for the County Council. Mr. Washington, whom Mr. Johnson named two years ago as the county's deputy director for homeland security, once served as Mr. Johnson's driver. A former police corporal, he was temporarily suspended from the force for an off-duty scuffle. In separate incidents a couple of years ago involving a homeowners association on whose board he served, Mr. Washington was accused of assaulting a property manager, shoving the association's treasurer and berating the association's president.

Luckily, in Tuesday's election there are better choices for the council -- candidates who combine honesty, integrity and deep knowledge of the county. Several of them are incumbents running unopposed, both in the Democratic primary (which dominates the political action in Prince George's) and in November's general election, including Thomas E. Dernoga (District 1), Camille Exum (District 7) and Tony Knotts (District 8). All three have been excellent council members -- hardworking, tough-minded, sober and unafraid to stand up to Mr. Johnson. Likewise, David Harrington (District 5), who faces no primary opponent and only a token Republican rival in November, is a council member whose serious-minded focus on minority issues and land use has won him respect.

In District 3, a crowded field of candidates is vying to replace retiring incumbent Thomas R. Hendershot, including his wife, Florence Hendershot. The most impressive of the lot is Eric C. Olson , who has served on the College Park City Council for almost 10 years. Mr. Olson has been deeply involved with promoting public transit and environmental issues; in his day job, he's a top official in the Sierra Club. Mr. Olson's commitment to revitalizing run-down urban neighborhoods makes sense, and he clearly has the passion and smarts to act on it. The Republican candidate in District 3, Jim Wildoner, has no primary opponent.

In District 4, three solid candidates are competing in the Democratic primary to succeed council member Douglas J.J. Peters, who's running for the state Senate. By far the most experienced of them is G. Frederick Robinson , who has been a steady, capable mayor of Bowie. A retired major in the county police, Mr. Robinson is well versed not only in public safety issues but also in education and land use.

In District 6, the incumbent, Samuel H. Dean , is the obvious choice. A former council chairman, he is deeply respected by his colleagues as the conscience of the group -- a consensus builder who has both challenged Mr. Johnson and soothed tensions when necessary.

In District 9, no fewer than five Democrats have lined up to challenge incumbent Marilynn Bland, and no wonder -- she is an embarrassment to the council. Ms. Bland, who as a school board member once took her family on vacation to Disney World and charged taxpayers for it, is a disaster. She is ignorant of the issues, heedless of public ethics and irresponsible with the public's money; she has spent far more of it on office expenses than any of her colleagues. Fortunately, there is a good choice to replace her: James "Fred" Harley , an honest former member of the county planning board who traces his ancestry in the county back 10 generations.

We make no endorsement in District 2, where the incumbent, William A. Campos, is unopposed. His first term on the council has been singularly undistinguished.