Prince George's School Board Election 2024: Meet Jolene Ivey

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Residents will vote this fall to elect new members of the Prince George's County Board of Education. Patch invited each candidate running for a seat on the school board to complete a questionnaire about their campaign priorities, their views and themselves. Below you'll find the unedited, verbatim responses from Robin Brown, candidate for Prince George's Board of Education District 1.

Early voting runs from Oct. 24 through Oct. 31 and Election Day is Nov. 5. More information about voting locations, registration, mail-in ballots and dropbox ballots is posted here.

Effective July 1, 2024, the Prince George's County Board of Education consists of nine members elected by district to four-year terms. The board previously also had four appointed board members.

Here are the people who filed for candidacy with the State Board of Elections for the Prince George's County Board of Education.

District 1
Tiffini Andorful, BowieDonna S. Barriteau, Glenn Dale

District 4
Shayla D. Adams-Stafford, Lanham

District 5
Robin Brown, BowieZipporah Miller, Bowie

District 7
Kenneth Harris, Upper MarlboroPhelton Moss, Suitland

District 8
Zakyia Goins-McCants, Oxon HillAngela R. Jones, Ft. Washington

What is your name? Jolene Ivey

What position are you running for? Prince George's County Council - At Large

What ways can people contact you with questions? Contact@joleneivey.com and Jolene@joleneivey.com

Campaign website? www.joleneivey.com

Age as of election day? 63 Years old

Place of residence? Cheverly, Maryland

Family members? My husband is Glenn Ivey and I have 5 sons and 1 step-daughter. We
also have 3 grandchildren and 2 dogs.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? My husband Glenn Ivey is the MD-04 Representative in the US House of Representatives. My son Julian Ivey is a Maryland State Delegate.

Education? Graduate of High Point High school and Towson University, and hold a
master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Maryland.

Occupation? Prince George's County Council Chair and Council Member for District 5

Previously held elected or appointed political positions? Prince George’s County Council Member District 5, 2018-2022 and Maryland State Delegate in 2006 until 2014.

Why are you running for office? Being a mom of five boys and now a grandmother, I want to continue the work I have done to ensure that families, especially children, have the support and access to resources and a good education.

Prince George's is at a crossroads, and I have the experience and vision to move our county forward. I have experience at both the state and county levels, and I know what collaboration is needed to ensure support from every level of government to implement bold policies for smart
economic development and growth. I know that intentional community-focused development can spur the type of revenue growth needed to increase housing supply, thus stabilizing housing costs and bringing necessary resources to support families.

Prince Georgians deserve to thrive and I am the person who can lead us there.

The single most pressing issue facing voters is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing voters is quality of life. This is the intersection of many of the different challenges Prince George's County is facing and one issue is not severable from others.

Quality of life means something different for each person but I believe that supporting families and our seniors, focusing on expanding the commercial tax base to increase revenue streams, and ensuring that we implement the climate action plan so we make sure that mother earth continues to be able to sustain us long term are ways to ensure our county thrives.

Last year we faced a $171 million budget deficit, and I led the Council in prioritizing schools and public safety without raising taxes and closed that budget deficit. There are budgetary challenges ahead, and there will be difficult choices, but we also need to maintain our AAA bond rating, build EV infrastructure, expand the tree canopy, maintain rent stability, streamline the hiring process, all while not raising taxes.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? It comes down to experience. I am currently on the County Council, elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022. My colleagues elected me Chair in 2023. I previously served in the MD House of Delegates from 2007 to 2015 and was elected as Chair of the Prince George’s County House Delegation from 2012 to 2014. I was appointed by Governor Wes Moore to serve on the Zero Emission Energy Vehicle Infrastructure Committee for the 2023-2026 term, and am currently the Chair of an environmental committee for the Metro Washington Council of Government. My experience in every aspect of Prince George's County provides me with the insight to be familiar with the issues and the possible solutions that could resolve much of the systemic issues facing the county.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)? Challenger or not, I am very aware of what the community sees as failures in the county government. Some of their complaints are my complaints. However, I know that while it is not a perfect system, it is possible to create the county we all want to live, work, and thrive in. This won't come without challenges, but it is doable if we continue to work together towards that common goal.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform. What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? This past year as Chair of the County Council, I had to ensure a balanced budget in the face of a projected $171M deficit. With limited revenue streams, finding ways to cut without cutting important public safety services and not raising taxes, I am keenly aware that I led our team through a difficult moment by working with the county executive, my counterparts in Annapolis, and the full County Council. I am proud of the
budget we passed, even though it did not do all that I wanted it to. I am looking forward to continuing to lead my colleagues in a way that is thoughtful and continues to provide the residents of this county with the resources and services they need.

The best advice ever shared with me was: The best advice ever shared with me was from my father. My father was a buffalo soldier and then a school teacher, and maybe it was those
experiences that instilled the value of community in him. He always reminded me of how important it was to be of service to those around me. This is a value that has stuck with me and one that I have passed down to my children. Find ways to be of service and you can leave things better
than you found them.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions? I am a big advocate of dogs and supporting the local shelter. I adopted two dogs during the pandemic and they continue to bring so much joy. Recently, I advocated for a dog park off of Columbia Park Road and I am working on assisting some other communities who have requested dog parks in their areas. I believe that dog parks can bring owners similar benefits that it brings to their pets. I am hopeful that with more dog parks, we can instill a stronger sense of community in our neighborhoods.

I have served in different elected capacities, and in all of them, I know that the main purpose to be in those positions is to listen to the community, hear the issues, and work to problem solve. While some solutions can take longer than others, I know that working together, hand in hand with
neighbors, will prove to find the best resolutions. I am always available to meet with and chat with residents in the county.