Candidates keep it short during District 5 debate

Landover Mall, Sheriff Road industries among discussion topics

Participating candidates were Theresa Mitchell Dudley of Landover, Andrea Harrison of Springdale, Adrion Howell of Glenn Dale, Sherry James-Strother and Melvin Johnson, both of Landover, Edmonston Mayor Adam Ortiz, and Derrick Parks of Springdale. Republican candidate Steve Johnson of Cheverly did not attend, said District Heights Mayor James Walls.

Sponsored by groups such as People For Change and the Maryland Black Mayors Association—of which Walls is president—the debate, held at the Fairmount Heights Town Hall, gave all the candidates opportunities to answer questions about key issues. Primary elections will be held April 1.

Many of the candidates hoped the revitalization of areas such as Landover Mall would increase the county’s tax base. Dudley expressed dreams of seeing the mall transformed into a ‘‘black Mecca mall” with black-owned stores.

‘‘Why don’t we open up our own stores instead of begging other people to come in and give us something?” Dudley asked.

James-Strother agreed, and said the area could benefit from another movie theater.

Johnson also supported the mall’s rehabilitation and said that in general, the area could benefit from more economic development.

Fairmount Heights resident Edward Jordan asked the candidates how they plan to help the county’s young black males who might be engaging in drug sales. Howell, a former County Council liaison for County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D), suggested the county provide more vocational training, recreational programs and apprenticeships for youth. Parks, who owns his own security company, said education and opportunity are missing elements in the county.

‘‘Most of us don’t grow up wanting to be the guy on the corner,” Parks said. ‘‘It’s because of the lack of opportunity that they move in this direction.”

Having run for the same seat three times prior, Dudley said she appreciated the opportunity for a forum but wanted more time to discuss campaign finance and solutions for too much residential development, an issue she feels is the reason behind overcrowded schools and a strained police and fire department.

Ortiz felt the time constraints were appropriate.

‘‘In general I think politicians take too much [time] to say too little,” Ortiz said. ‘‘It forced the candidates to get to the point, which can only be good.”

Ortiz, who recently received an endorsement from the SEIU, wished more time was spent discussing the Prince George’s Hospital funding troubles and resident displeasure with the air quality near Cedar Heights and Fairmount Heights, neighborhoods in close proximity to concrete mixing and asphalt plants.

‘‘I felt that the travesty on Sheriff Road, the air pollution, the trucks, the unhealthy activity was overlooked by many of the candidates,” Ortiz said.

Concerning the Sheriff Road industries, Harrison said she wished she had more time to respond to Ortiz. Currently the County Council’s District 5 chief of staff, Harrison said according to county law, the land the plant stands on has been zoned for industrial use for more than 20 years but recommended changing the law in the future so other plants are not placed on the same site.

‘‘In this office you can’t go against the law,” Harrison said. ‘‘But you have to work within the law.”