The nine-member Prince George’s County Council and County Executive Jack Johnson pledged Monday to put past differences behind them in 2007.
Despite all being Democrats, Johnson and the Council have suffered a rocky relationship, highlighted by several ballot initiatives Council members put on the ballot for November’s election that restricted the county executive’s powers.
Prince George’s voters agreed with the Council and approved measures preventing Johnson from transferring staff or funds between county agencies without Council’s permission.
“Despite opinions to the contrary, this administration and this council working together have achieved the results we needed to solve the challenges facing us but sometimes we have great debate first,” Johnson said in his inaugural address after being sworn in for a second term. “We have transformed this county into an economic powerhouse. We are going to continue to have great debate, but it only means we are working together. We are not done yet.”
Council Member Thomas Dernoga, who served as Council president this year, also used his address to ask for cooperation. Dernoga and the other eight Council members also took the oath of office Monday in front of several hundred at the Showplace Arena in Upper Marlboro.
“I challenge you to be the best county executive in the country, and I know you will be,” Dernoga said to Johnson during the Council member’s inaugural address.
When the Council reconvenes in January, growth-and-development issues will be at the top of its agenda.
“We are going to take up land-use issues right away,” Council Member David Harrington said. “We will be looking at how to do the transfer of development rights program.”
The TDR initiative would keep someland free from commercial and residential development while channeling the growth to designated areas.
