Prince George’s County Council District 6

What’s the job: The legislative branch of Maryland’s county governments. Responsible for introducing and voting on legislation, approving county spending and providing oversight of county operations. Elected to a four-year term.

Democratic

Name: Danielle I. Hunter

Candidate did not respond to The Banner’s voter guide questionnaire.

Name: Dominique Lamb

Age: 39

Personal:

Education: Bachelor’s degree, politics and philosophy, Washington & Lee University; master’s degree, philosophy, George Mason University; graduate certificate, digitization, digital media and intellectual property, University of Maryland Global Campus.

Experience: Housing equity strategist and real estate broker; consulted Senator Raphael Warnock’s team, the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights, the National Association of Realtors, members of the Maryland General Assembly and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on opportunities to eliminate modern housing discrimination.

Questionnaire

Q: As a council member, what will be your primary focus to help improve the lives of Prince George’s County residents?

Q: The county faces competing fiscal pressures, especially when it comes to funding county public schools. What should the county’s funding commitment to the school system look like?

Q: Prince George’s County has made major investments in its schools, yet academic outcomes have remained a persistent challenge. How would you hold the school system accountable?

Q: With tens of thousands of county residents employed by the federal government, how should the county work to diversify its economy and support residents affected by federal layoffs?

Q: The county council recently passed legislation to limit ICE activity in county spaces. Do you support this approach? What more should the county do to protect immigrant residents?

Q: The county has convened a task force on data center development. How should the council use that work to shape future development decisions?

Q: Do data centers have a role to play in the county’s economic development?

Q: Housing costs continue to strain residents across the county. What specific policies would you champion on the council to increase the supply of affordable housing?

Name: Joel R. Peebles Jr.

Candidate did not respond to The Banner’s voter guide questionnaire.

Name: Crystal Samonica

Candidate did not respond to The Banner’s voter guide questionnaire.

Name: Bertrand Tessa

Age: 48

Personal: Bertrand Tessa is a progressive leader, community organizer, and small-business advocate running for the Democratic nomination for Councilmanic District 006 in Maryland. Having lived in the district for almost a decade, Tessa understands the daily challenges families face: rising utility and housing costs, aging school infrastructure, and reliable transit. He brings over a decade of public service and grassroots experience to the campaign, having contributed to neighborhood revitalization projects, volunteer tutoring programs, and economic development initiatives that supported local entrepreneurs and created jobs.Tessa is committed to building a safer, fairer, and more prosperous District 006 where everyone can thrive. He asks for your vote in the Democratic primary to bring community-centered leadership to the council.

Education: PhD, economics, Howard University, 2024-2028; master’s degree, public administration, Harvard University; master’s degree, economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; master’s degree, environmental science, Yale University.

Experience: United Nations, regional advisor for Africa, 2020 - 2026; World Resources Institute, program coordinator, 2012 - 2019; Smithsonian Institution, research fellow, 2008-2009.

Questionnaire

Q: As a council member, what will be your primary focus to help improve the lives of Prince George’s County residents?

Q: The county faces competing fiscal pressures, especially when it comes to funding county public schools. What should the county’s funding commitment to the school system look like?

Q: Prince George’s County has made major investments in its schools, yet academic outcomes have remained a persistent challenge. How would you hold the school system accountable?

Q: With tens of thousands of county residents employed by the federal government, how should the county work to diversify its economy and support residents affected by federal layoffs?

Q: The county council recently passed legislation to limit ICE activity in county spaces. Do you support this approach? What more should the county do to protect immigrant residents?

Q: The county has convened a task force on data center development. How should the council use that work to shape future development decisions?

Q: Do data centers have a role to play in the county’s economic development?

Q: Housing costs continue to strain residents across the county. What specific policies would you champion on the council to increase the supply of affordable housing?

Republican

Name: Michael Jones II

Candidate did not respond to The Banner’s voter guide questionnaire.

Name: Jonathan White

Age: 52

Personal: Married, father to 6 adult kids.

Education: Masters and MBA

Experience: Military and federal government

Questionnaire

Q: As a council member, what will be your primary focus to help improve the lives of Prince George’s County residents?

Q: The county faces competing fiscal pressures, especially when it comes to funding county public schools. What should the county’s funding commitment to the school system look like?

Q: Prince George’s County has made major investments in its schools, yet academic outcomes have remained a persistent challenge. How would you hold the school system accountable?

Q: With tens of thousands of county residents employed by the federal government, how should the county work to diversify its economy and support residents affected by federal layoffs?

Q: The county council recently passed legislation to limit ICE activity in county spaces. Do you support this approach? What more should the county do to protect immigrant residents?

Q: The county has convened a task force on data center development. How should the council use that work to shape future development decisions?

Q: Do data centers have a role to play in the county’s economic development?

Q: Housing costs continue to strain residents across the county. What specific policies would you champion on the council to increase the supply of affordable housing?