When They Get What They Want
The Referendum That Could Reshape Prince George’s County — And Not the Way Its Architects Expect
My father used to tell me something when I was a kid — a line that has aged better than most political philosophies in Prince George’s County:
“When they get what they want, they usually get what they deserve.”
That line has been ringing in my ears ever since the Council floated the idea of eliminating the two at‑large seats through a 2026 charter referendum. On the surface, they’re selling it as a cost‑saving measure. But anyone who has spent more than five minutes watching this county’s political machinery knows exactly what’s going on.
This isn’t about saving money.
This is about sending a message.
And the intended recipient of that message is Council Member Jolene Ivey.
Why This Coalition Fears Jolene
Let’s be blunt: Jolene is one of the most powerful figures in county politics. She’s respected, she’s experienced, and she’s not owned by the clique that has been running the county into the ground with vanity spending and blue‑and‑gold theatrics.
That alone makes her dangerous to the current power structure.
Some in the County Executive’s orbit — including allies of former Council Chair Edward Burroughs and current Chair Krystal “Ore-Ida” Oreadha — have convinced themselves that whenever bad information leaks out about them, it must be coming from Jolene to me.
Let me put this on the record as clearly as I can:
Jolene Ivey has never given me a story. Not one.
She’s a longtime personal friend.
If I were hungry, she’d feed me dinner.
But she has never fed me political intel.
She doesn’t play that game.
She doesn’t need to.
And the fact that they believe she does tells you more about their paranoia than about her conduct.
The Attempt to Clip Her Wings
The referendum is being framed as a budget fix, but the political subtext is obvious:
Jolene is eligible for two more at‑large terms — 2026 and 2030. Eliminating the seats in 2030 removes her long-term platform and, in theory, sidelines her.
That’s the plan.
But here’s the problem with political plans: they tend to backfire when they’re built on fear instead of strategy.
If It’s on the Ballot, It Passes — And That’s Where the Trouble Begins
Let’s walk through the mechanics.
If the Council passes the measure, it goes on the November 2026 ballot.
And if it’s on the ballot, it passes. Voters will see “cost savings,” and after years of wasteful spending, they’ll grab onto that message like a life raft.
But here’s the twist:
Nothing changes until 2030.
That means:
- Jolene can run at‑large in 2026.
- She serves her full term through 2030.
- And then — with the at‑large seats gone — she’s positioned exactly where her critics least want her:
as the natural, structurally forced candidate for County Executive.
They’re not boxing her out.
They’re funneling her upward.
The 2030 Collision Course
Let’s talk about the County Executive’s trajectory.
Based on public reporting and the pattern of governance we’ve seen — the spending issues, the branding obsessions, the administrative misfires — the County Executive is likely to win reelection in 2026 but enter the next term weaker, not stronger.
That’s not my opinion.
That’s the trend line.
And if that trend continues, 2030 becomes a very dangerous year for the incumbent.
Meanwhile, Jolene — healthy, focused, and freed from the at‑large seat — would have four uninterrupted years to build a countywide campaign.
That’s not a warning shot.
That’s a runway.
The Unintended Consequences for Burroughs and Oreadha
Here’s the part no one in that coalition seems to have thought through:
If the at‑large seats disappear in 2030, they disappear for everyone.
Edward Burroughs and Krystal Oreadha will be term‑limited.
With no at‑large seats to run for, they’re out of the Council entirely.
So the coalition pushing this referendum may be engineering its own exit from county government.
They’re trying to weaken Jolene.
They may end up retiring themselves.
When they get what they want…
The Roof They Pulled Down on Themselves
If the referendum passes:
- Jolene gets one more at‑large term.
- She enters 2030 as the strongest potential challenger for County Executive.
- The incumbent enters 2030 weakened.
- Burroughs and Oreadha lose their landing pads.
- The county’s political architecture shifts dramatically.
The move meant to silence Jolene may instead elevate her.
The move meant to secure power may instead dismantle it.
And the people who pushed it may discover that the roof they tried to drop on someone else has landed squarely on their own heads.
A Friendly Reminder to a Dear Friend
And Jolene — if you’re reading this — you still owe me a couple of stories.
You’ll give me dinner, but you won’t give me a scoop.
I respect it.
But I’m still keeping score.