Two Neighbors Seeking Common Cause

Pr. George's, Charles Discuss Development, Roads in Joint Session

When the Charles County commissioners traveled to National Harbor last month to meet with the Prince George's County Council, both groups of officials were mindful that their joint session was coming at a time of major transformation for the two counties and their relationship with each other.

The meeting was the first formal gathering between the two governing bodies in the past few years. The topics discussed included water issues, transportation improvements such as a proposed light rail system and an upgrade to Indian Head Highway, and commercial development on Route 210 and at National Harbor.

"We share a lot of concerns between the two counties," said Wayne Cooper (D-At Large), president of the Charles commissioners. "We want to make sure everybody is on the same page about our priorities."

Demographically and politically, Charles is growing increasingly similar to Prince George's, whose population is more than five times as large. Thousands of upwardly mobile African American families looking for larger homes at more affordable prices and better schools have moved from Prince George's to the Waldorf area, creating in Charles one of the fastest-growing black populations in any jurisdiction nationwide. Last fall, African American students became the majority in Charles public schools, joining the District and Prince George's as the Washington region's only majority-black school systems.

Meanwhile, voting patterns in Charles during the presidential primary this year show the clearest evidence yet that Democrats have solidified their grip on the loyalty of county residents. Although the Democratic Party has long held the majority in voter registration in Charles, as recently as two years ago, two of the five elected county commissioners were Republicans.

In 2006, Democrats swept all five seats and every other elective office in county government. In February's Potomac Primary, 21,000 Democrats cast ballots in Charles, compared with about 8,000 Republicans.

"The primary does illustrate what the 2006 election taught us about the Democratic tendencies in Charles," said Michael Cain, a political science professor at St. Mary's College of Maryland and an expert on Southern Maryland politics. "The demographic change has really transformed the political landscape there to be closer to Prince George's."

Relations between the counties' officials have occasionally been contentious, most notably when then-Charles commissioner Al Smith (R-Waldorf) said some of the county's crimes were committed by Prince George's residents. Smith said he did not "want to see Charles County become another Prince George's County." Many people in both counties saw racial undertones to Smith's remarks, which came during a time of heavy migration of black families from Prince George's to Charles and a series of hate crimes in Charles.

Smith was voted out of office in 2006 when he challenged Cooper for the presidency, and the county's current leaders have put forward a friendlier face toward Prince George's. Charles officials say a good relationship with Prince George's leaders is crucial to working toward transportation and commercial development goals.

The meeting at National Harbor was especially significant for the region's commercial growth, because developers will rely on Southern Maryland residents to join their Prince George's counterparts at the new development if the project is to succeed. The $4 billion, 300-acre development along the Potomac River, just south of the Capital Beltway and about 20 miles from Waldorf, includes dozens of shops, restaurants and bars as well as luxury townhouses, a convention center and a marina.

The project is one of several new commercial centers in southern Prince George's, a trend that has caused some Charles officials to worry about losing tax revenue along with prime shopping and dining opportunities. Although Charles also has seen a wave of commercial development, the county has had trouble attracting the kinds of high-end retailers and restaurants that are flocking to National Harbor and Brandywine Crossing, a new shopping center just across the county line that will be anchored by a Costco warehouse store.

Charles Commissioner Reuben B. Collins II (D-Waldorf), who represents the portion of the county closest to Prince George's, said that he is glad to see more development within easy driving distance from most parts of Charles but that he is concerned that the "destination stores" head to Prince George's more often than to Charles.

"It's good to have new choices, but I hope it doesn't negatively impact our economy in the county," he said.