City, New Legislators Meet

Recently elected county and state lawmakers met city officials Tuesday night to discuss Bowie's 2023 priorities.

State Sen. Ron Watson and his new 23rd legislative delegation joined returning County Council Member Mel Franklin at the Bowie Senior Center for a three hour meeting and dinner. Also attending were legislative staff, the city's lobbyists, and several members of the city's civil service.

Absent were Mayor Adams, and Council Members Roxy Ndebumadu and Henri Gardner, who were out due to travel and illness. In the mayor's absence, Council Member Dufour Woolfley led the meeting assisted by Council Member Michael Estève, City Manager Al Lott, and City Attorney Elissa Levan.

Recent Bowie City Council Members Adrian Boafo and Ingrid Harrison attended in their new capacities as Delegate-Elect and Prince George's County Council Member. Boafo and Harrison won their primaries in July and faced no partisan challengers in their general elections this November.

Both council members were completing their first terms on the city council, Council Member Harrison representing the city at large and Council Member Boafo representing District 3, roughly covering Rt 50 to Mount Oak Road. Boafo was also serving as Mayor Pro Term, the appointed vice-mayor position.

Delegate-Elect Boafo joins 188 sate lawmakers in Annapolis this January, and will be one of the youngest in his freshman class, at 28 years old. Boafo was 25 at the time of his election to the Bowie City Council in 2019 and subsequent appointment as Mayor Pro Tem.

Boafo previously served as Political Director for Congressman Steny Hoyer and managed the Majority Leader's Bowie district office. The Maryland Delegate-Elect will retain his current day job at Oracle as he serves in Annapolis.

County Council Member Ingrid Harrison will head the District 4 County Council office vacated by Todd Turner last month. She previously served in the District 4 office in several capacities and will be retaining much of the office's current staff. Council Member Harrison was previously elected on the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee and for Employ Prince George's. During her time on the city council, she also served as a government relations manager for Children's National Hospital.

"Adding two recent city council members to the county and state rosters is welcome," said Council Member Michael Estève. "Adrian and Ingrid know the city well and will bring experience and a first-hand understanding of our challenges to their roles. I'm very confident they will be effective advocates for our needs."

Council Member Estève lost in the July primary election for the county council district 4 seat, conceding to Harrison. The race was marred with some controversy after a developer-alligned PAC intervened with attacks against Estève.

The Council Member has stated he does not believe Harrison was involved with the PAC and maintains he the newly elected County Council Member enjoy a warm and productive relationship.

Joining Boafo in the 23rd state delegation covering Laurel, Bowie, Mitchellville, and Upper Marlboro is Kym Taylor, a political newcomer who previously worked for state Sen. Paul Pinsky and resides in unincorporated Bowie. Taylor with her husband runs a senior care firm and has been an advocate against appraisal discrimination and for senior needs.

Returning with the 23rd delegation is longtime House of Delegate Member Marvin Holmes, an Army veteran with years of experience in municipal public works who also operates a brokerage firm. Delegate Holmes has enjoyed several key leadership roles in Annapolis and is considered a respected senior statesman with a large legislative portfolio.

Leading the 23rd Delegation is returning state Sen. Ron Watson. A retired Army Officer, Watson earned a Masters and Ph.D. in systems engineering and became a government defense contractor. Watson was elected to the Prince George's County Board of Education and the Maryland House of Delegates before being appointed to fill the state senate seat vacated by state Sen. Doug Peters in 2021.

Watson, Boafo, Holmes, and Taylor won contentious primary elections over the summer, considered some of the most competitive in the state.

Among the issues discussed at the Tuesday dinner were the city's ongoing water and sewer repairs, the Bowie Race Track Property's transfer to the city, local capital improvement projects, and needed highway improvements, notably the long-delayed 197 expansion.

The meeting was cordial with city, state, and county officials agreeing to work together and maintain open communication as they serve their Bowie constituents.