By Deborah Bailey, Ph.D
AFRO Contributing Editor
Tara H. Jackson is now acting executive for Prince George’s County.
Jackson was promoted to the post by mandate of the Prince George’s County charter, after the Dec. 2 resignation of former Prince George’s County Executive, now Senator-elect Angela Alsobrooks.
Jackson met with the public and media on Dec. 4 to lay out the agenda for immediate issues the county must face in the days ahead.
“I believe I’m here to maintain the stability of the government and help us transition smoothly,” said Jackson, who previously served as chief administrative officer for Prince George’s County.
She quickly made it clear that she would not seek the permanent position and instead would connect immediately with the Prince George’s Council to pass the budget. This will be the second year in a row that the county will face a budget shortfall.
“We are certainly in challenging economic times. We are facing a deficit of 150 million dollars for fiscal year, 2026. I’ve taken that responsibility seriously and will continue to do so,” Jackson said.
Jackson also faces a threat from the incoming Trump administration over the decision to move the FBI headquarters to Greenbelt. The new FBI headquarters, announced by the General Services Administration (GSA) in November 2023, will bring up to 7500 jobs to Prince George’s County.
“I’m looking forward to the FBI building coming to Greenbelt and we are going to continue to prepare for that,” she stated.
President Elect Donald Trump posted on his Truth Media site, his intention for the new FBI building to be located in downtown D.C. near the White House. Another concern is the continuing investigation by the GSA into the decision to relocate the FBI headquarters to Greenbelt. Members of the Virginia Congressional delegation wrote a letter to GSA protesting the November 2023, protesting the selection of the Greenbelt site, after which, the GSA launched an investigation into the process.
And if Jackson’s plate was not already overflowing on day one, she will also be expected to negotiate with representatives from the Washington Commanders to keep the NFL team in Prince George’s County. The Commanders are in the midst of entertaining an offer to move back to their old home at RFK stadium in D.C. at the invitation of Mayor Muriel Bowser. Maryland Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, along with Prince George’s County leaders, met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodall and Josh Harris, lead owner of the football team, on Dec. 2.
“I want the team to stay,” said Jackson. “We have the better site. We can provide more opportunities to develop that site,” Jackson said. She insisted that whatever the final team’s final decision, the community surrounding the stadium is still on track for development and improvements.
The Commanders decision on a final location is on hold. RFK stadium is located on federal property, so Congress must first pass legislation giving D.C. control of the land. The D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act has passed the House of Representatives and is working its way through the U.S. Senate.
Aside from those big ticket items, Jackson is also working on a timeline to permanently fill the county executive post.
“It will be in the next four to six months, but the Council will make that determination,” Jackson stated. “The County Board of Elections and the State will meet and recommend a process for the elections,” Jackson stated.
With her eyes firmly fixed on the wide range of transformative decisions for the county that can’t wait until a permanent election is held this coming Spring, Jackson vowed to “keep the trains running,” and pledged to do whatever it takes to keep Prince George’s County on track.
“I want to handle this transition well,” said the 20-year public servant and native of Prince George’s County. “The people deserve it.”
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