REMARKS

THE HONORABLE SAMUEL H. DEAN

CHAIR, PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY COUNCIL

EXCHANGE OF THE GAVEL

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2004

 “SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE”

Good morning,

First, I want to give thanks and honor to my Lord and Savior, because He has richly blessed me with the privilege to serve the citizens of this great County.  And then I want to thank my esteemed colleagues on this Council for the faith they have expressed in my ability to lead this body on this next leg of our journey.  To be elected Chair of this County Council is a signal honor and one I do not take lightly.

As we examine the “Power of a Leader” this quote is often shared:  “True leaders are not those who strive to be first, but those who are first to see the need, envision the plan, and empower the team for action.  By the strength of the leader’s commitment, the power of the team is unleashed.”

Many have heard me call Tony Knotts  “my leader.”  By the strength of his commitment to this body and Prince George’s County, the power of our team as a County Council has been unleashed.  Tony, you have served with a mark of distinction and I am personally honored to have been your Vice-Chair and now I accept, with a great deal of humility, the gavel of leadership from you.  I know my colleagues are anxious to join me in a round of applause for your great leadership!

Also, this Council has been diligent in serving the people of this great County and we should commend them with a round of applause for their hard work and efforts.

As I begin my tenure as Council Chair, I look forward to important partnerships. First and foremost is the partnership of my co-leader, Vice Chair Tom Dernoga. Thank you, Tom, for accepting the challenge of the new leadership team. Your experience, dedication and hard work will be a critical component in the achievement of our goals this year.

I am excited about working with all of my colleagues on this Council. We truly are a team, embracing a common goal.  We may not look the same, and we may come from different backgrounds and walks of life, but we remain confident in one another’s commitment to the greatness of Prince George’s County. I can tell you about us in just five words: ”We believe in each other.”

We have often heard Mr. Knotts say, “We will not allow others to define who we are.  We will define ourselves and determine our own destiny.”  Be very clear that this Council is not a “gang.” And I take exception to this body being defined as such. We are intelligent and independent thinkers. To define us as a “gang” is an affront to those we represent and who elected us to serve. Reaching consensus and voting as a majority on issues make us effective legislators who produce results.

Speaking directly to the media now, I am asking on behalf of the Council that you consider in your reporting of Council actions and activities, our disdain for the “gang” reference and our desire for fair and accurate coverage.

Often we expect new leadership to mean a change in direction. In this case, the transition is unique because it is seamless.  Do not expect any radical changes in how we operate as a Council. We will continue however, raising the bar with more long-term solutions to our challenges and more creativity in the effective use of our resources.  We will continue to think differently about development, so we can create economically viable communities with supporting infrastructure.  Business, government, and community working together can make this a reality.

We are committed to opening up the tent and ensuring that we continue to create opportunities and build capacity for our small, minority and local businesses so that they can benefit from the economic boon that is occurring in the County. And we will oppose any attempt, from whatever source, to limit their participation.

Many of the projects coming before us have the potential to transform this County and the quality of life for our residents. And we will only commit to those projects that add value and viability to our communities: that means improving roads, building schools, and developing parks and recreation facilities.

In the new Legislative Year, we will continue to build on our partnerships, especially the ones we have established with County Executive Jack Johnson, our federal and state legislators,  the Judicial Branch, Drs. Tignor and Hornsby and other members of the Board of Education, churches, businesses, unions and community organizations.

As we carry out our charge, this Council stands ready to dialogue and collaborate with our partners to arrive at win-win solutions for all stakeholders. 

In closing, I have a few more acknowledgements to make: My lovely wife, Donna, who is my life partner, best friend, my campaign manager, and a volunteer in my office several days a week. I want to publicly thank her for her unselfish support of me.

I am always grateful to her and to our friends in the County, along with our Vermont Avenue Church family, who were instrumental in my election to this Council and who continue to volunteer to support me and my vision of a better Prince George’s County.

I want to recognize and thank our son, Terrence, and my sister-in-laws Salena Quarles and Bernice Steele Brown for their encouragement and support.

We have great Council administrators and staff, and I know I speak for every member of this Council when I say how much their dedication and hard work means.

I owe a special debt of gratitude to those members of my office staff who are so diligent in their efforts to respond to the needs of our constituents: Nell Johnson, George Braxton, and Iretha Tate- Thank You.

Finally, I am grateful to all of you in the audience and want to thank each one of you for helping us celebrate this auspicious occasion.

As a Servant of the People, I accept this gavel with humility. And I ask that you keep every member of the Prince George’s County Council in your prayers.

Thank you.