A Basketmaker for the Planning Board? Braveboy’s Latest Appointment Raises Alarms
Prince George’s County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy has forwarded yet another eyebrow‑raising appointment to the County Council — this time to one of the most powerful bodies in county government: the Maryland–National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M‑NCPPC) Planning Board, the entity that shapes zoning, land use, development, and the physical future of the county.
The nominee, Lori M. Matthews, presents a résumé and application that raise more questions than answers. And the deeper one looks, the more the appointment appears less like a merit‑based selection and more like a personal favor dressed up as public service.
A Résumé That Doesn’t Match the Sales Pitch
In the official Committee Report transmitted to the Council on March 10, 2026, the County Executive’s office described Matthews as:
> “a resident of Accokeek… with over thirty years of professional experience as an educator… [who] also worked for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where she managed sensitive correspondence for the White House and Congress.”
But Matthews’ own documents — submitted under penalty of perjury — tell a different story.
Her Appointee Data Form lists only one employer for the last five years:
> “EXECUTIVE DÉCOR – Self Employed… January 2020 – Present.”
Her résumé confirms the nature of that business:
- “Create Luxury Gift Baskets for Realtors.”
- “Customize specific themes for Executives and Corporations.”
- “Curated with high quality gourmet foods, fine wines and luxury items.”
This is her primary occupation.
There is no mention of planning, zoning, land use, transportation, environmental review, or any field remotely connected to the Planning Board’s mission.
A Teaching Career — But Not a Planning Credential
Matthews’ résumé shows a long teaching career ending in 2021. That is respectable work — but it is not remotely related to the technical, legal, and policy‑heavy responsibilities of the Planning Board.
The County Executive’s office framed this as “over thirty years of professional experience as an educator,” but omitted the fact that:
- None of it is recent.
- None of it relates to planning.
- None of it appears in the required five‑year employment history on her application.
The DHS Experience: Three Months, Seventeen Years Ago
The Committee Report suggests Matthews “managed sensitive correspondence for the White House and Congress.”
Her résumé states:
> “Department of Homeland Security (ICE)… Administrative Assistant II… September 2009 – December 2009.”
Three months of clerical work in 2009 is not the same as managing high‑level federal correspondence. The description in the Committee Report appears inflated at best.
Education Claims That Raise Questions
Matthews lists:
> “MASTER OF ENGLISH COURSES COMPLETED – Graduation Date: May 2005.”
This is not a degree.
It is coursework without a completed master’s program.
Yet it is presented in a way that mimics a graduate credential.
Address Conflicts and Basic Inconsistencies
Her application states she has lived at:
> “155 Potomac Psge, Oxon Hill — 16 years.”
Her résumé lists:
> “15406 Blue Willow Lane, Accokeek.”
The Committee Report identifies her as:
> “a resident of Accokeek.”
These contradictions are not trivial. Residency is a legal requirement for many county appointments.
A Personal Appointment?
Multiple sources indicate Matthews is allegedly part of the County Executive’s upcoming wedding party. That is not documented in the materials, but the pattern fits a broader concern: personal loyalty appointments to high‑stakes positions.
The Planning Board is not ceremonial. It controls:
- zoning
- development approvals
- transportation planning
- environmental review
- billions in long‑term land‑use decisions
It is one of the most consequential boards in the county.
Council Hesitation Speaks Volumes
The Committee of the Whole took no action on the appointment — a rare move for a Planning Board nominee. When the Council hesitates, it usually means the concerns are real, not political theater.
The Real Question
Why is the County Executive placing a luxury‑gift‑basket entrepreneur with no planning experience, no recent public‑sector work, and questionable résumé inconsistencies on the board that shapes the future of Prince George’s County?
The documents don’t answer that.
But they make the question unavoidable.
It’s pretty recent. She was appointed on 3/10 to a temporary term set to expire on 6/15/26.
I believe this is old news and she has been appointed. Please confirm.