It has been a rough summer for Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson as he’s come under fire for a surge in violence in the county and his own questionable dealings in county land transactions.
Capping off a two-week period in which nine people were slain in the county was the death of police Cpl. Richard Findley, followed fewer than 48 hours later by the strangling of his suspected killer in the county jail. As state and federal investigators continue to search for Ronnie White’s killer, they’ve narrowed their focus to three corrections employees, raising questions about a department whose failings have made headlines for months.
Then, on Sunday, as police were sifting through reports from yet another violent weekend in the county, The Washington Post released an in-depth report suggesting Johnson used his power to help his friends buy county property for as little as $1 through back-door deals, actions Johnson denied.
Johnson’s political opponents, like Edmonston Mayor Adam Ortiz, say the revelation of the county executive’s deals for close friends is just business as usual.
“The potential of our county has been continually compromised by this culture of kickbacks and corruption,” Ortiz said. “Our reputation and progress are traded on the cheap, as a few insiders get rich, paid for by the people of Prince George’s.”
But Ortiz, as well as Johnson’s supporters, do say Johnson has moved the county forward, too.
“Overall, we have made progress in our schools and our financial health,” Ortiz said.
Johnson has received praise in recent months from the likes of Gov. Martin O’Malley for bringing the county and the state together to help save the failing Prince George’s County hospital system. Last month, Johnson announced the county’s receiving a AAA
bond-rating for the first time in history.
And earlier this year, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) said “Prince George’s County has a strong, vibrant business community,” in part due to Johnson’s leadership in raising the county’s international presence.
But for Rushern Baker III, who has run against Johnson for county executive and told The Examiner Monday that he plans to run again, Johnson’s successes are not enough in a county that’s always under the magnifying glass as the state’s strongest Democratic jurisdiction.
“If we’re going to assume the role of leading Democrats in the state, part of that is to be transparent at every juncture including contracts and law enforcement,” Baker said.
