Jolene Ivey

Special Session 2007

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 05:46:59 Z

This three weeks' long session has been a baptism by fire! I'm not only on the Ways and Means Committee, I'm on the Revenues Subcommittee, which means I've been intricately involved with most of what we've been doing in Annapolis the past 3 weeks – raising revenue. I've held off on sending you an update because things have changed so quickly, it's been hard to keep it straight. I'd rather send you something you can count on than something that may be outdated before I hit "send."

We convened on October 29th, by the request of Governor O'Malley, to close a $1.5 billion budget deficit. When I look back on what's been involved in finding money and shaving planned-increases to the budget, it's amazing that we've managed to do it, but we have! It has involved a lot of risks, compromises and faith, but we've been successful.

First, thanks so much to the many of people who contacted me either through e-mails, letters, phone calls, or face-to-face meetings to let me know their views. Here's a brief summary of the topics I heard were of most concern:

□ Slots – I heard from those who hate them, and from those who'd like to at least consider having them here in Maryland.   In the end, there will be a referendum on slots on next November's ballot. I voted to put it to the voters, primarily because most people want to have a say in that issue, and I saw it as the best way to get rid of slots as an issue for years to come.   I voted against the actual slots bill (I lost that one), and I'm hopeful that the impending onslaught of campaigning for and against slots will educate voters, and that we will all make an informed decision NOT to have this harmful activity brought into our state.

□ Prince George's Hospital Center – The health care bill that expands eligibility for Medicaid to 100,000 uninsured people also includes $50 million for the hospital. While there is still a requirement that a long-term solution to the future of the hospital be in place before the money is released, there is one big change to this contingency:   Either the state and Prince George's County must reach a Memorandum of Understanding OR through an Act of the General Assembly before the money is released.   I'm optimistic that small word will make a big difference in being able to resolve the hospital system's crisis. I was, of course, glad to vote for this bill!

□ Tobacco Tax – An additional $1 tax on each pack of cigarettes will raise $162 million in 2009, and a little less each year after that, as more people are encouraged to quit smoking. I supported that measure.

□ Tax on Computer Services – this tax was a Senate proposal that the House accepted as one of those compromises I mentioned earlier.   I admit I'm somewhat skeptical that it will actually bring in the $203.7 million projected, as it will be difficult to enforce. It won't cover internet access, which is a question that's come up frequently.   And keep in mind that some of the covered computer services are already taxed in Washington, D. C., Delaware and West Virginia. (See attachment).

□ Green Fund -- About $50 million each year will go to the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Fund, to help clean up the Bay.   This money will come from redirecting the motor fuel tax and the sales tax on rental cars from the general fund to this Bay Fund. I was pleased to vote for it!

The taxes that were proposed on landscaping, vehicle repair, and property management services were each removed from the bill.

The most important tax issues that I supported, and that Governor O'Malley will soon sign into law, are the one cent sales tax increase the implementation of a more progressive income rate tax structure. There will be a penny increase in the sales tax, which will now be 6 cents on each dollar.    That will bring about $700 million into the state! In addition the income tax rates will now be more progressive, ranging from the current 4.75% for individuals who have a net income of up to $150,000 and couples with a net income of up to $200,000; to 5.25% for the remaining income up to $300,000 (individuals) and $350,000 (joint); and 5.5% for the amount over $500,000.    Keep in mind that each rate doesn't apply to the entire taxable income, but rather to the dollar amount over that limit amount. There is also an increase in exemptions, depending on your net tax, and an increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit.    Middle income earners should see either no change or a slight decrease in their taxes.

We also cut about $500 million from the budget, primarily through reductions in planned increases (which makes sense, after you think about it!).   With the cuts and the new money coming in, Marylanders can look forward to a solid financial footing that funds education from Pre-K through the university level, increased access to health care, improvements in our transportation infrastructure and a cleaner Bay, as well as the other services the government provides that we all come to take for granted.

My number one concern is representing the citizens of the 47th legislative district.    Please continue to share your views, concerns and ideas with me. I really do listen, and I really do appreciate it. You may reach me at (301) 858-3478 or via my e-mail address: Jolene.ivey@house.state.md.us.

Reception for Delegate Ivey

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 04:32:48 Z

	Speaker Michael Busch, Chairwoman Sheila Hixson, Chairman Dereck Davis, Chief Majority Whip Talmadge Branch and Senator Verna Jones Cordially Invite You to a Reception for Delegate Jolene Ivey 47^th Legislative District, Prince George's County Ways & Means Committee Fratelli's Italian Restaurant 5820 Landover Road Cheverly, Maryland 20785 Telephone: (301) 209-9006 Tuesday, September 25, 2007 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm R.S.V.P by September 20th, 2007 to rsvp@JoleneIvey.com or call (240) 432-3025
	Contributions may be sent to: Friends of Jolene Ivey P.O. Box 85 Bladensburg, MD. 20710-0085
	Authorized by FutureVision, Ed Terry, Treasurer

Annapolis Update #01

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 15:35:38 Z

We are just over 1/3 of the way through my first Legislative Session here in Annapolis, and I wanted to let you know how it's going. It's so exciting to be a part of making laws that affect the whole state, keeping a particular eye on how everything affects citizens of the 47th Legislative District.

This whole experience has been like high school civics in 3-D. It's one thing to think back to my teacher's explanation of how a bill becomes law, but it's another thing altogether to be a part of that sausage-making operation. I have filed three bills this session.

One is a local bill, which means it only affects Prince George's County. It raises the marriage license fee by $15, and that money will go to the Family Crisis Center, which helps victims of domestic violence.

The next bill has to do with campaign finance filings, and is pretty boring but helpful to candidates. It let's those who raise or spend less than $1,000 by the filing deadline to sign an affidavit to that effect and not have to file an entire report.

The last bill helps foster children be adopted by extending their eligibility to the Flex Fund, which helps pay for counseling and other needs the foster family can't afford. The hearing for that bill was February 22nd at 1 p.m. before the Judiciary Committee.

Aside from my own bills, I've been engrossed with bills before Ways and Means Committee. We just voted to put a measure on the ballot to see if voters want to amend the Constitution to allow early voting, and the whole House will vote on that this week. We have also heard bills on the need for a paper trail in elections, and tax credits for solar energy systems, for bio-diesel fuel for school buses, and for fuel-efficient cars.

The difficulty we face is balancing all the good that these credits can do, but recognizing the huge structural deficit ($1.4 billion!) we are up against.

There's more to tell, but I will save something for next time.

Also, it's time to apply for scholarships, so please call for an application. The scholarships are for those attending Maryland state schools, (including colleges and universities or vocational or technical training).

Please call (301/858-3478) or e-mail me (Jolene.Ivey@house.state.md.us ). I'd love to stay in touch, and hear your thoughts as the session continues.

THANK YOU!

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 02:45:48 Z

While I could not imagine losing, it was also difficult for me to assume I would win!

Sunday evening I knocked on my last door. I had started to hear from people that I had already knocked on their door, written them a note, put a sign in their yard – that they were already going to vote for me, so please stop knocking on their doors! That’s when I knew that I had a reasonable chance of winning.

Tuesday morning I was at Rollingcrest-Chilllum Community Center, shaking hands and asking for votes. So many people told me that I had already knocked on their door/written them a note/called the night before that it actually got to be a joke among the other poll workers! They started laughing, every time another person repeated the same message. I was starting to feel the love.

Maybe the poll volunteers for other candidates began to sense some momentum started helping me! I could not believe it, but there they were, pointing me out as the candidate and funnel curious voters to speak to me. It was so good to have everyone rally around me!

The love was building.

And when I walked into my victory party at Artmosphere Café in Mt. Rainier, the love was overflowing! Early results showed me in the lead, and everyone was so happy for me! It was really, really a blast. Later results brought the race to a razor-thin finish with me in a very close second place to Victor Ramirez – at least, I think that’s how it ended. I will check the results later, but either way works for me as the top three go on to serve in Annapolis!

And it’s the love, I know, that got me through this. So many people love me and were willing to do all of the grunt work required of a successful race. Nothing but love could make people get up at ungodly hours to pass out fliers or wave at traffic. Nothing but love could get people to knock on strangers’ doors for hours on end. Nothing but love could have anyone stand outside all day long at a poll, or cut paper flowers for a float, or build “IVEY” out of wood for the flowers to decorate, or work on mailings and literature pieces or research odd questions for an endless number of endorsement questionnaires or tend to tedious campaign financial filings or work on my database for hours and hours or, phone banking, or, or…

Just love. And that’s why I won! And it’s wonderful to have so many people who I love, and who love me back enough to go through this crazy adventure with me.

So thank you! Thanks so much. Now I will need you all for the real work ahead, improving life for all of us here in the 47th Legislative District, in Prince George’s County, in Maryland, in the United States of America, in the world. It all starts here!

This is our little corner of the world, and I’m so glad I have you with me to make it better.

Washington Post Endorses Jolene Ivey

Sat, 09 Sep 2006 12:28:50 Z

The Washington Post joins the Gazette newspaper in endorsing my campaign!

The Post editorial said, ". . . the third incumbent, Rosetta C. Parker, is one of the least respected members of the General Assembly. Voters would do well to replace her with Jolene Ivey, an eager, candid community activist."

Gazette Endorses Jolene Ivey

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 02:11:20 Z

from the August 31st issue of the Gazette newspaper:

"In House District 47, all three incumbents are seeking election again, however, it is simply time for Del. Rosetta Parker, who has become out of step recently with the requests of her community, to move aside. Jolene Ivey, who many mistakenly believe is simply running on name recognition (she is married to county State’s Attorney Glenn F. Ivey), comes armed with fresh ideas and a history of activism on women’s issues."

What I’ve learned on the campaign trail

Wed, 23 Aug 2006 02:14:19 Z

As the mother of five beautiful boys, I am pretty well-versed in childbirth. Lessons learned over nine months times five (and two extra months for the child I lost) often translate into other parts of my life. Since January, I have been on the campaign trail trying to meet the people who will decide my fate – voters in the 47th Legislative District.

In the beginning I was a bit queasy – how do I go around telling people that I have taken on a new life path? I got reactions that ranged from excitement (“Of course! That’s exactly what you should be doing!”) to others that shall remain unquoted. It is an unsettling experience. Usually I felt like I was at the top of a roller coaster that was about to careen to the bottom, and it was too late to change my mind.

After a while I got used to one of the more unpleasant parts of running for office – fundraising. It is a necessary evil, and made me feel like a bill collector at first. People who normally would welcome a call from me were suddenly too busy to chat. I am still not excited about having to ask for donations, but I have built up a callous that keeps my feelings from being hurt, and I try to be clear that our personal relationship is not on the line. Just give what you can. One funny thing is how differently I view a $100 check now, based on who wrote it. If it is from someone who has a million dollars in the bank, I am slightly annoyed, I confess. If it is from someone who I know is on a fixed income, I am overwhelmed by their generosity and determined to do my best for them. My notoriously cheapskate (and not-rich) brother sent me a $1,000 and a lovely note that made me cry.

Not surprisingly, the most labor-intensive part of campaigning has also been the most rewarding: door knocking. There is nothing like trying to meet voters, one or two at a time, by knocking on their doors and introducing yourself. The first day I did it was in January. It was bitter cold, and every house seemed to have a long flight of stairs. I knocked on 100 doors that day, and I was bone-tired when I dragged myself home. My husband, Glenn, asked me who had gone with me and I told him I had gone alone – I was in our own neighborhood in the middle of the day, why not? He was beside himself. As State’s Attorney he hears about all the horrible things that happen to trusting souls like me, and he made me promise to never do that again. I have kept that promise, but it has slowed me down, always having to find someone willing to go with me. This is definitely a time when being a woman has its drawbacks.

I door knock pretty much every day. It is slow, sometimes tedious, and some days I greet it with the same joy as the prospect of dental surgery. Once I am out there, though, I am happy to do it. It has been an education that I never got in college or grad school. I have learned so much about our District and the concerns of the neighborhoods. It has certainly validated my desire to run for elected office.

Getting back to my prenatal analogy, pregnancy brings with it a lot of attention to appearance. Are you carrying high or low? How big is your belly compared to how far along you are? Are you one of those glowy-pregnant women, or do you look like you just want it to end? The most visible part of campaigning is signs. I love my signs. I think they are the most attractive signs out there. Maryland state colors, clear message, great design – who would have thought a committee could have come up with it?! Okay, we did have a graphic designer leading us (thanks, Pam!), but everyone had a say. It took a good month of driving Pam crazy with revisions, but the end result makes me smile every time I see it. This is quite often, these days!

Lawn signs dotting neighborhoods are individual endorsements for me, and they are my favorite. One supporter in Chillum called me for a lawn sign when she saw that one of my big ones had been torn down, it made her so mad. I told her I would rather have a little sign in her yard than that big one on the road any day. Ms. Sator is the kind of leader who people look to when deciding who to vote for, so having my sign in her yard will probably get more actual votes for me than one of my 4’ x 8’ signs.

Don’t get me wrong, though, I do love those big signs! When I went to pick them up from the printer I was overwhelmed by how enormous they are. Now that they are out in public, I am like a proud mama – have you seen the one tucked over in Avondale, by the St. Thomas More Nursing Home?! Ruby and I put it up ourselves, flip flops, pedicures and all. I dug the holes, Ruby wielded the screw gun, and although she was skeptical when I told her of our job for the evening, she was as excited as I when that double-sided beauty rose up.

We are into the last 3 weeks of the campaign – the final push! That’s one part I have had a lot of experience with, at least when it comes to childbirth. It’s tough work, you’re tired, you need a lot of encouragement, a lot of it is plain painful, but it’s got to be done. With campaigning, at least you can spread the work around, and for that I appeal to you! These last weeks feel like the most critical. All the previous months’ efforts will be for naught if we let up now. Winning is the only possible outcome in my mind, and hard work is the insurance that makes it happen. Can you help by working a poll? By going door knocking with me? Helping with office work? Making phone calls? Passing out fliers at Metro stations and to drivers at lights? Donating a few more bucks? It’s all needed!

Let me know! Feel free to e-mail me at Jolene@JoleneIvey.com, call me at 301/385-9629, or send a check to Friends of Jolene Ivey, P.O. Box 85, Bladensburg, MD 20710.

Baby’s due on September 12th, Primary Day. Pray with me for a healthy delivery.

Thank you,
Jolene

"Thank You for Being a Friend of Jolene Ivey Party"

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 12:14:50 Z

I've been overwhelmed by the support so many people have given to my campaign to represent you as a delegate in the 47th Legislative District! Election Day (September 12th!) will be here before we know it, and there's only one way I can be sure that we win -- with even more help.

We need lots of people to come help canvass the neighborhood to make sure we get the largest number of votes right here in Cheverly, and with enough teams working that day, we can do it. (Bring your young voters-to-be! They make great door knockers!)

Then come back at 5 to eat, drink, trade campaign war stories, and just be appreciated.

Please rsvp to Mary Jane Coolen at MJ@JoleneIvey.com.

Thanks so much! Hope to see you on Sunday, July 30th!

Why Vote for Jolene?

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 04:03:08 Z

A question I often hear is “Why vote for Jolene? How are her ideas different?”

It is not that my ideas are different. Actually I agree with many of the positions of most of our current delegation from the 47th Legislative District. What sets me apart is my effectiveness .

Looking at many of the issues facing the 47th District – from preventing the Liquefied Natural Gas facility in Chillum, to state aid for municipal police departments, and maintaining our District’s recreational and educational facilities, to supporting our Hospital – many of our current Delegates would agree that these are important issues. But voters expect more than a simple acknowledgment. We need to exert ourselves for a fair share of state assistance.

As you look at my background, you see that I have accomplished the goals I set for myself. From establishing a now nationwide non-profit support organization for mothers of color, to convincing an insurance company to change their policy, to saving a successful program in the public schools, I have proven that I will do more than state a position. I am persistent. I use common sense. I can work with all kinds of people to get things done.

So when you consider your choices for the Delegation on Primary Day, remember that you vote for three Delegates. On September 12th, vote for me and send the best Delegation to work for you in Annapolis.

Thanks,
Jolene

Stirring up the Hornets’ Nest

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 12:49:15 Z

Sometimes lessons come in a package that’s just a bit too tidy. Think about poor Andrew, out helping me with door knocking – doing his civic duty, in his mind – pushing a lawn sign into a rotten wooden beam in a driveway, and discovering that the spot that seemed to be located so perfectly for the sign had been claimed already by a swarm of hornets. They chased him down the street with me driving alongside yelling, “Get in!” He did jump into the car, only to find that the hornets had jumped in with him. So I pulled over, and he hurled himself out and down the street again, then back into the car, then out again – at least three times this scene repeated – until finally the last hornet had been smashed or had flown away. Andrew, fortunately, is a good-natured soul, and told me this wasn’t the first time he’d been stung by angry hornets. I told him his sacrifice wouldn’t go unappreciated, and that I’d think of his 20 stings every time I pass that sign in the coming months.

Now that I think of it, Andrew stirred that hornets’ nest on my behalf, he was attacked, and I suffered nothing more than the shock of the scene and the guilt that I’d pointed out that rotten beam as a good spot for the sign. What was the lesson?

Perhaps it’s that sometimes when you’re working for what you feel is right, shaking things up comes with unexpected consequences. All the great people who’ve been helping me with the excitement and drudgery of campaigning have given up valuable time, money and energy to help me reach a goal that belongs to all of us now, not just me. Mostly, they’ve been rewarded with the feeling of satisfaction of being a part of the democratic process, with stretching past their comfort zones to try things they’d never thought they’d do (want to go door knocking in a down pour?!), and with meeting people with similar visions for the County.

But occasionally, there are angry hornets. So thanks, Andrew, for going way beyond the call of duty. I’ve already driven past that sign again, and it’s standing as a proud testament to your sacrifice. I’m sure my turn to be stung is on the way, and I only hope I can take it all in stride with as much humor as you did today.

It may not have been the first time you’ve been attacked by hornets, Andrew, but I sure hope it’s the last!

Facing Campaign Challenges

Sat, 24 Jun 2006 00:59:05 Z

Thursday I was taking two of my boys to Border's when I got a call from my dad that my mom was back in the hospital. Unfortunately, this call has become more routine as her health has deteriorated over the past year. I dropped the boys home, cancelled my door knocking plans for the evening and headed out to Holy Cross.

Sitting by a hospital bed gives you a lot of time to think. Mostly, I thought of my mom - how much more can she stand? I'm sure I don't have as intense a will to live, and would have given up long ago. And how does my dad, at 87, manage the stress of her many serious conditions? Did we make the right decision when we brought her home from the nursing home and hired someone to live in with them? Soon their money will be gone, but Medicaid will not pay the smaller amount for the live-in, so the nursing home may be the only alternative, even though she really wants to be home. Our house (with 5 boys) is too raucous for them, so they've refused to move in with us. These are trying times for us.

Campaigning is challenging for everyone, no doubt about it. Candidates with no small children or elderly parents still have a tough time staying on top of all the details, rounding up volunteers, going door knocking, attending community events and (endlessly) raising money. Running for office is not for the faint of heart.

As a candidate, what slows me down is also what makes me strong - my family.

I probably would not be so concerned about senior health care issues if I were not going through these difficult times with my own parents. My children make me look at the school system in a different way than someone for whom the schools are a theoretical problem. Crime is the constant background music in our house, with most of Glenn's work life being devoted to jailing the criminals our police arrest everyday.

I am grateful for the perspective I get from still having my parents around to worry about. I am glad that my children (who can help with door knocking and get dinner on the table!) give me eyes for all children. I appreciate the window into safety issues that Glenn provides. And I hope that you will see that these experiences make me a strong addition to the General Assembly.

I still hope to meet as many citizens as I can in neighborhoods throughout our District. I want to demonstrate to everyone the kind of determination, vision and compassion I possess. If I have not reached you yet, please feel free to contact me. I certainly want you to know how I can serve you in Annapolis.

Jolene Ivey

Jolene@JoleneIvey.com

100 Days

Sat, 17 Jun 2006 23:05:59 Z

Sunday, June 4, 2006

My Friends,

Today we are one hundred days from Maryland's Primary Day. That is only 14 weekends!

In order to be successful on September 12th, I must rely upon you to help my campaign during these last crucial weeks.

If you can host a coffee meeting at your home with your neighbors, it would be a great way to introduce me to folks who know and trust you. It need not be anything elaborate, simply an hour or so to speak with people to grow my name recognition.

I have planned many days when I will be door knocking in neighborhoods within our district, being at Metro Stations and attending community events and civic association meetings. Having a few supporters along side to distribute literature and introduce me is very helpful.

I also need volunteers for Neighborhood Captains within the District. I have included a map of the district below.

Being a Neighborhood Captain means being responsible for these tasks:

Accompanying me as I door-knock in your neighborhood - introducing me to your neighbors is much more effective than a "cold-call".
Encouraging neighbors to have lawn signs, and providing them.
Identifying and contacting new neighbors and making sure they're registered to vote
Knowing your area's voting place and informing your neighbors of time and place to vote
Identifying neighbors who would need an absentee ballot for any reason (disability, away on Primary Day, not willing to stand in line on Primary Day.)
Knowing and conveying dates and locations of civic association/town clubs/association meetings or other events that I should attend.
Briefing me on issues or concerns of neighborhood that I could address while contacting voters.
Steering other motivated neighbors to assist our campaign.

If you can assist by hosting a coffee, joining me on a door knocking or being a Neighborhood Captain, please send an e-mail to Mary Jane (mj@joleneivey.com).

Thank you again so much for your support and together I know we will win on Primary Day!

Jolene

Candidacy Announcement

Sat, 17 Jun 2006 22:52:03 Z

Today I begin a new chapter in my life. This decision has been made easier by friends and family like you, encouraging and helping me everyday, and has made me sure that I’ve made the right choice.

Glenn and the boys have helped me tremendously, too. Glenn has never cooked so much in his life! He has learned the difference between a clove of garlic and a bulb of garlic. And I have experienced campaign workers in the boys. They're great at helping put out signs and doing mailings. They'll help with door knocking and literature-dropping once school lets out, too. And all of us have had to pull together to make this work, and I want to thank them all for helping not just directly with the campaign, but with keeping the household running.

I thought that coming back to Mt. Rainier was the right thing for me to do when I was trying to decide where to be today. Glenn and I bought our first home here in 1988, and we absolutely loved it here. We were pretty naive, though, about how large of a house we needed. We thought we’d be here forever, but two boys in, it was clear we needed a few more bedrooms!

One of the things we love about Mt. Rainier is the strong sense of community. People look out for each other here, and they're involved in each other's lives. Glenn and I used to belong to a dinner group here with two other families. Each family cooked dinner for the other two families once a week, and with leftovers, you could get through the whole week with only cooking one meal! It was great. (Now I have to cook that much every day to feed everybody.) When someone has some type of calamity, people pitch in here. Just recently our friend Renate had a horrible house fire, and when I came by that next weekend, there were neighbors covered in soot, helping to clear out the mess.

When we looked for a bigger house we chose Cheverly for the same reasons. Cheverly's sense of community is well-known -- just look at the most-recent Washingtonian Magazine, if you don’t believe me!

It's the people in Mt. Rainier, and Cheverly, and all over the 47th District and across Prince George's County who are our strength. We are the key to building on the positives and fixing the negatives about Prince George's. And that brings me to why we're here today with a great band, a moon bounce and all of these friends and neighbors.

Earlier today, I filed the required paperwork with the State Board of Elections in Annapolis officially declaring my candidacy as your Delegate from the 47th District.

Each legislative district in Maryland sends a delegation of representatives to Annapolis – three Delegates and a Senator. The best part of this arrangement is that each member of the delegation brings their own skills and experience to the legislature to act on behalf of the citizens. The stronger the delegation, the more effective your representation in state government.

This arrangement allows each citizen the opportunity to elect their representatives based on different criteria – selecting candidates on individual attributes that compose a solid team of representatives. So when you consider your choices at the polls, select the candidates based on our individual, but complimentary strengths.

My candidacy offers voters an opportunity to strengthen our delegation in many ways. First, I have a strong, proven track record of community involvement and activism. I'm also a mother of young children, and the child of elderly parents. My dad is here today, and I'd like to thank him and my step-mom for doing such a great job raising me and my brother, and showing us that service starts at home and radiates outward to the community around you. As a mother and a daughter, I have personal experience with the schools, and with senior citizen's health care issues.

I also bring passion and determination, and I'm known for working hard. Recently I was at the Chillum-Ray Civic Association meeting, and talked about how when I was pregnant with Troy, who's number 4, I was the general contractor on the addition of our house – "Home Depot" were Julian's first words, poor thing – and I started Mocha Moms at the same time. We had our first organizational meetings in the construction. And Troy was born in our new bedroom a few hours after Glenn and Rushern moved the furniture in. Within five minutes of his birth, the electrician knocked on the bedroom door and asked where the outside light was that I wanted him to install! The midwife was not amused, but I knew he had to finish, and so I put back on my contractor's hat and told him what he needed to know. I think those civic association members were more shocked about the homebirth than anything else, but they could see that one thing I can do is juggle many things at once and be successful at all of them.

So when I set my sights on a goal, it is accomplished. That does not mean I am stubborn or not capable of working as a team. It means that when an opponent is relentless, like Washington Gas – I, too, will be relentless for what is right.

Finally, I bring respect to the table – respect of the office and the voters who entrust me with their representation. I pledge to work with community associations and municipal governments to ensure that our voice is heard in Annapolis – not just at election time, but all the time.

The effectiveness of the delegation is dependent on the collective skills and experiences of each member of the Delegation. Our district faces challenges - crime, education, senior services and quality of life. These are all issues that each candidate acknowledges and will strive to improve. I will approach these issues with a commitment to work for each of you.

I would be more than happy to talk to you about my ideas for public safety, improving the environment, expanding our educational resources, including working for our full share of Thornton funding and adult-level English language classes, saving our hospital, working with local businesses to enhance their support to the community. Our services for seniors must be more than recreation. Preventative visits and home care are important health-care issues Annapolis must consider.

We have only sixteen weeks to reach-out to each voter in our district, not only to introduce myself, but to invite every eligible voter to participate in the primary election. This is an important election, not only on a state level, but federal and local as well. Participation is key to ensure we select the strongest ticket possible for September's General election.

This campaign is made possible by the support of friends like you. I sincerely appreciate all the faith you have placed in me and I will work hard to make you proud of your legislative delegation. Together we will make Prince George's County all it is capable of being.

Thank you.

The #1 Issue

Sat, 17 Jun 2006 22:37:04 Z

Apparently the most-pressing issue facing my campaign to become a delegate from the 47th Legislative District in Prince George's County, Maryland is not my vision on how to improve our struggling schools, nor what can we do to make our communities safer, or even how to improve the County's economy or ecology. No, those critical questions are rarely raised. Prepare yourself for the all-important issue I'm confronted with day after day: clarifying my racial identity.

For the record, I am black. Perhaps it would be more correct to use the term "colored," a much-maligned term in the past, but in my case probably more precise.

I was reared by two African-American parents in Riggs Park, which is in Northeast Washington, D.C., and the mother who birthed me is white. (My parents divorced when I was 3, and my dad raised me and my brother. He married my black step-mom when I was 7.) My entire extended family is black.

I met my white mother's father once when I was 15, and I once spent half an hour with two cousins from that side of my genetic family tree. They are from the hills of Tennessee, and I feel no connection to any of them in any way. I don't remember their names or what they looked like, except my mother spent a lot of time after that meeting exclaiming about how much smarter and prettier I was than they. (I do remember thinking that the bar looked like it had been set pretty low.)

By contrast, I come from a family of educated, professional black people who, unfortunately, were the first blacks in so many jobs and fields. Both my parents have their Masters' degrees. My dad, Joseph Stephenson, taught for 20 years in the Prince George's County school system (10 at Douglas, 10 at High Point, my alma mater), and my step-mom, Genevieve Stephenson, worked as an Art Museum Specialist at the National Portrait Gallery. She used to tape my scribblings on the wall in her office, and I would brag that I had art hanging in the National Portrait Gallery. My grandparents were teachers and owned their own businesses. My aunts, uncles and cousins mostly are government workers or lawyers, with a few ne'er-do-wells thrown in to keep things interesting.

Growing up, everyone in my neighborhood knew each other, so my race wasn't questioned. As I got older and went out into the world, without that protection of familiarity, I’ve had to deal with situations where my race is mis-identified. Sometimes it's funny, like the woman last week who exclaimed, "I would have never guessed – Glenn Ivey is married to a white woman!" (We had a good chat after that, and she signed up to volunteer on my campaign!) Other times, white people have felt comfortable making racist comments to me about black people, and I get to give them a verbal-smackdown. (As a younger person this kind of confrontation felt like a necessary evil, but with age has come some level of enjoyment.)

What bothers me most is when black people shut me out, and treat me as if I'm white. I feel black, plain and simple, not even mixed. I was once kidding with my oldest son about Michael Jackson, and I randomly stopped a woman in the parking lot and said, "Michael Jackson is weird, right?," expecting her to amen me. But she pulled herself up and said no, there was nothing strange about Michael Jackson. I could see that as a black woman she was taking up for a black man who was being made fun of by what she thought was a white woman. I can't say that I had to schedule an appointment with a therapist, but that did irritate me. If I'd looked more like her, she would have been laughing right with me about Michael.

Sometimes I have to remind myself how I'm perceived. Just yesterday an Asian man told me that he was afraid to move to Prince George's County because he didn’t want his children to grow up like jive-talking, low-achieving black kids. I immediately jumped in to explain how my boys were nothing like that! Why, they're smart and polite, and their pants don't hang off their butts. This explanation meant nothing to him, and later I realized he thought I was defending white children!

Perhaps the real question is, does the race of our politicians matter? And to a large extent, I have to answer yes, it does matter. My race is a big part of who I am, what I've learned about the world, and how I react to it. It's important to have as many perspectives as possible so we can work together and solve problems.

I am black, a woman, a mother, and have roots in Prince George's County going back 30 years. It all matters, and it's all part of what makes me a strong candidate for this job.

In addition, I work hard, and I'd rather not do a job than do it poorly. While I was pregnant with our fourth boy, I was the general contractor on a large addition to our home, and held meetings in the middle of the construction with three other women to start Mocha Moms, a support group for at-home mothers of color. I gave birth in our new bedroom less than a day after we moved furniture into it, and within five minutes was giving final instructions to the electrician. Yeah, I'm bad.

And I'm also black. So when you meet me, get over the color of my hair and skin. Judge me by my work ethic, ability to get along with all kinds of people, my accomplishments and plans for the future. Let's talk about how we can make this County not just the home of some of the wealthiest African Americans in this country, but the safest home of the best school district in the United States of America.

Sat, 17 Jun 2006 21:31:19 Z

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Jolene in the News

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Jolene for Delegate

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