Democracy Dies in Darkness – The case of Delegate Carolyn J.B. Howard. | PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PARENTS, MARYLAND BLOG

Delegate Carolyn J.B. Howard (D-24-Mitchellville) – Maryland Deputy Speaker Pro Tem engaged in suspicious gamesmanship and dubious alliances at the expense of the county citizenry.

While test scores in the states second largest school district remain among the lowest in the region, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker and some of the county’s elected School Board remain in a bitter power struggle over control of the school system, its budget, and the current Superintendent “the CEO”.

PG -402-17 introduced by the Delegate Carolyn Howard and Senator Muse representing Prince George’s County at the request of County Citizenry and to oppose the role of the County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III. However, on February 22, 2017, Delegate Carolyn Howard who is the Deputy Speaker Pro Tem and a Member of Ways and Means Committee decided to sabotage the bill and engage the issues in the dark.

First, the meeting was advertised as being held on Wed, Feb 22, 2017 8:30am, room 218 Lowe House Office Building. However, on Feb 22, 2017, the room location for the meeting was changed in a suspicious manner at the last minute from room 218 to room 318 at 9 am. This gamesmanship threw a lot of people off as they did not know there was a meeting to deliberate the issues in room 318. During the meeting, it became clear that Delegate Carolyn Howard has decided to sideline Senator Muse and she is now supporting the Current CEO. As a result of the sabotage of PG -402-17 by Delegate Carolyn Howard in which she stated to be working closely with the CEO’S office in Prince George’s County, Senator Muse has now decided to introduce another bill to help fix the issues and address the issue in original bill. Delegate Carolyn Howard seem to be working in the dark with others to kill democracy in Prince George’s County while keeping things hush hush. Several questions come to mind:

why did Delegate Howard fail to post the meeting and the agenda here ~~>>http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=cmtepage&stab=03&id=hru&tab=subject3&ys=2017RS
Why change rooms of the meeting as advertised for February 22, 2017 from room 218 to room 318 in Lowe House Office Building and fail to inform the public of the same?
What role are the Prince George’s County based unions playing in sabotaging democracy in Prince George’s County?
What role is the CEO’s office playing to undermine democracy in Prince George’s County?
Why is an important bill such as PG -402-17 being discussed in the dark?
What role is Delegate Howard playing in connection with the liquor board in prince George’s county of which her husband is a member?
Does her position as an elected official create a conflict of interest to the people she is supposed to serve? The liquor board, known officially as the Board of License Commissioners, regulates more than 600 liquor stores, restaurants and other businesses in Prince George’s County.

Well, With the crowning of Delegate Carolyn J.B.Howard as the Deputy Speaker Pro Tem, the election cycle appears to have come full circle. Many supporters of an elected school Board with a strong Inspector General (IG) position are understandably disappointed and angry. A truly historic opportunity has been missed. But there are many positive lessons to be drawn from this experience, and there are many reasons to be optimistic when it comes to the future of the democratic revolution in the Prince George’s county. First and foremost, we must keep the long view of history in mind. It is an undeniable fact that interest in change in governance and the fight against corruption since the arrest of a few elected officials has hit the mainstream. The significance of this development, especially in a county that has been subjected to decades of corruption hysteria which continues regularly, should not be underestimated. It appears the plum government jobs and corruption in the state of Maryland will continue to ensure the wealth of local politicians unless something is done to change the status quo. We will continue to ask tough questions until the light shines through.

In the meantime, county residents needs to call her and ask her to stop playing games with the future of the county schools and to do what is right for the families and students of prince George’s County. Write or Call her and let your voice be heard. This is not a time for cowardice. The enduring symbol of the United States is not the barbed wire fence, it is the Statue of Liberty. So, be encouraged. She can be reached at the following address;

House Office Building, Room 301
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3919, (301) 858-3919
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3919 (toll free)
e-mail: carolyn.howard@house.state.md.us
fax: (410) 841-3925, (301) 858-3925

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