Johnson Cannot Be Serious

February 21st, 2009 by Kenneth Burns

I cannot believe that Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson is seriously considering a challenge to Governor Martin O’Malley in the Democratic primary in 2010.  Johnson is correct in saying that there should be no point where the incumbent in office is not challenged, but if that is the only reason he has for challenging O’Malley, then Johnson has no leg to stand on, especially if you look at 2006.

Johnson, the incumbent for the County Executive office, was challenged by former Del. Rushern Baker in the Democratic primary.  However, Johnson did not feel that Baker was worthy of chalenging him to the point that Johnson himself refused to debate him.  Despite the fact that Johnson’s predecessor Wayne Curry and current Prince George’s State’s Attorney Glen Ivey endorsed Baker, Johnson miraculously won.  I still stand by my comment that if you run unopposed in the general election and only muster 97 percent of the vote and not anything close to 99 percent, that is not a mandate.

In addition to Johnson not practicing what he preaches, you have the abysmal way he had carried himself in office.  His most recent escapades include sneaking off to Africa on taxpayer funds after delivering a doom and gloom financial outlook for the county AND proposing another tax hike.  In addition, he also has a lack of understanding when it comes to criminal justice.  This includes his assertion that Domestic Violence is not a crime, as well as his declaring apartment complexes bastions of crime.  Also, instead of directing his police chief to go after criminals, he goes after nightclubs.  Johnson also presided over 2005, the bloodiest year in Prince George’s County.  His choice for, Police Chief Melvin High, retired last year but under normal circumstances, he would have been fired before then.

Do I even need to mention the Cheye Calvo case?  Remember, it was recently on WAMU (88.5FM) where Johnson said that Calvo was not above the law.   What a great thing to say about a municipal mayor in the county who was a victim of a botched police raid that scared his mother-in-law to the point where  she can’t even live in the house anymore.  Then there is the Ronnie White case where SOMETHING more should have happened by now.  The one other person, the afforementioned State’s Attorney Ivey, is doing the best that he can under the circumstances.  By the way, Johnson in the same radio appearance proved in the same statement why no one can take him seriously.

If I were Mr. Johnson, I would seriously consider if I would even stand a chance against O’Malley.  I’m no fan of O’Malley, but if I had to choose between him and Johnson…I would pick O’Malley and pray that my dog doesn’t become the next victim of Johnson Justice.

P. Kenneth Burns is the editor of Maryland Politics Today.  His email is kennyburns@marylandpolitics.us.