The Prince George’s County Council unanimously elected Council Members Marilynn M. Bland (D) – District 9, and Thomas E. Dernoga (D) – District 1, to serve as the Council leadership team for Legislative Year 2009.  Newly confirmed Council Chair Bland and Vice-Chair Dernoga presided over the first session of the Legislative Year on Tuesday, December 2, 2008.  

Council Chair Bland also announced the 2009 Legislative Year committee assignments and appointments to County boards and commissions during Tuesday’s session.  Council Member Dean (D) – District 6 will chair the Planning, Zoning and Economic Development Committee.  District 3 Council Member Eric Olson will serve as Vice-Chair.  Council Member Camille Exum (D) – District 7, will chair the Public Safety and Fiscal Management Committee, assisted by Committee Vice-Chair Tony Knotts.  Council Vice-Chair Thomas Dernoga and Council Member Will Campos (D) – District 2, will serve as Transportation, Housing and the Environment Chair and Vice-Chair respectively.  The newest member of the County Council, Andrea Harrison (D) – District 5, will serve as Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee. Council Member Ingrid Turner (D) – District 4, will serve as Vice-Chair.  Council Chair Bland and Vice-Chair Dernoga will preside over the Rules and General Assembly Committee.   

Accepting the gavel of leadership from former Chairman Dean, Council Chair Bland addressed the 2009 legislative agenda.  

“The United States is facing extremely difficult times.  People are losing their homes and their jobs, retirement funds are disappearing and infrastructure is deteriorating.  Prince George’s County is no exception to this national phenomenon and we must confront and face our challenges head on.  With each challenge comes opportunity: the opportunity to become a more efficient government, and to be creative, innovative and industrious as we work to meet the needs of the citizenry and quite frankly do more with less. This Council has everything it takes to meet and conquer these challenges.” 

Council Chair Bland, who served as Vice-Chair in Legislative Year 2008, was elected to a second four-year term on the County Council in November 2006.  Vice-Chair Dernoga served as Council Chair during Legislative Year 2006. 

The new Council leadership team will serve from December 2, 2008 until December 1, 2009.

To access gavel exchange photographs, speeches, and a complete listing of committee assignments and appointments to County boards and commissions, visit www.princegeorgescountymd.gov, go to Legislative Branch, What’s New.

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All legislative powers of Prince George’s County are vested in the County Council.  The County Council sits as the District

Council on zoning and land use policy, and as the Board of Health to govern and guide health policy.  The County Council meets as a legislative body on Tuesdays in the Council Hearing Room on the first floor of the County Administration Building in Upper Marlboro.  For more information on the Prince George’s County Council, please visit www.princegeorgescountymd.gov.