The Prince George’s County Council and County Executive Rushern Baker have found little to agree on lately as friction between them intensifies. Council members and Baker’s staff have fought over bills affecting county developments, such as the Cafritz Property in Riverdale, where a Whole Foods is expected to open, and Baker’s proposal to overhaul the fire commission, which drew the ire of council members when he was unwilling to back down from the effort.
Baker’s staff has stepped away from those plans, but a larger fight looms — the council has shown no confidence in Baker’s choice to head the County’s Attorney’s Office, Andree Green, who represents both the executive and legislative branches of government.
Councilwoman Mary Lehman, D-Laurel, said Green exhibits a demeanor “that indicates nothing really but disdain for the legislative section of government.”
“It seems your attitude over the past few months has been that you only work for the county executive,” she told Green in a recent committee hearing.
Behind closed doors, the council’s frustration with Green stems from its ongoing legal battle with Reaching Hearts International, a congregation set on building a new church in West Laurel.
Their efforts have been stymied by the council, which won’t make the zoning changes to allow construction to begin. The church won a religious discrimination lawsuit against the county in 2008, and in one of his first acts as county executive, Baker signed a $3.7 million settlement check to church leaders.
Facing a renewed lawsuit, Baker has asked the council to re-examine its position.
He said he would be hard-pressed to find any county attorney who wouldn’t instruct the council to follow the judge’s order to allow the zoning change.
Baker said he wants Green to change an office that has spent the past eight years losing many cases and writing settlement checks.
Though no council members have expressed interest in confirming her appointment, Baker said he refuses to withdraw his nominee.
“I’d look forward coming and watching them tell me why, after 10 months in office, their judgment of who should help me run this government is better than the voters’,” Baker said.
