'Hardcore Prince Georgian' Del. Washington Focuses on Education, Development

Del. Alonzo Washington (D-District 22) has long known he wanted a career in public service.

Washington, 29, has lived in Prince George’s County since he was six years old and said watching his family’s struggles growing up inspired him to want to serve.

“I’m blessed to have the opportunity to actually do it right now,” Washington said, who was appointed to be the District 22 representative last fall after former Del. Justin Ross retired mid-term.

A product of Prince George’s County Public Schools, he refers to himself as a “hardcore Prince Georgian,” and said his pride in his county often makes his friends chuckle.

“I always tell my friends how proud I am to live in this county, to have gone to school in this county and that I want to raise my kids in this county,” Washington said.

Education, he said, is the number one issue facing District 22 and Prince George’s County. Washington sits on the subcommittee for education on the Ways and Means Committee in the legislature.

“We have to work to create a 21st century education system in Prince George’s County,” he said.

Washington is also an advocate for the new school board governance plan that was passed at the end of the last legislative session.

“It’s going to be a good first stepping stone to making sure we have a strong school board, an accountable school board and an accountable CEO,” he said.

Having strong schools will draw more residents into the county, Washington said. It will also help retain the young professionals he fears are leaving Prince George's once they have children for neighboring counties with better public schools. 

Another important issue in the district is economic development. Washington attended last week’s Town Center Open House in Riverdale Park and he hopes that event will be the first of many of its kind designed to bring revenue and jobs into the district.

The Purple Line is also essential to economic development, as well as increasing development along the Green Line corridor, he said. Other issues in the forefront for Washington are affordable, quality housing and transportation.

Next session, however, education will remain a top priority for Washington. Last session, he authored a special education task force bill that aims to streamline the IEP process so that it is better for children and for schools. He hopes to do more of the same in 2014.

“I want to ensure our kids are receiving an excellent education,” Washington said.

During the break between sessions, he hopes to get out and meet more of his constituents this summer and fall.

“I’m really focused on getting out into the community and getting to know people," Washington said. "I want to understand people’s issues and figure out what the needs are."

In fact, at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, he is hosting a healthcare town hall on the Affordable Care Act at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt. The event is designed to help people understand how they can purchase health insurance, ways to pay for insurance and other topics related to the act.

Washington, who is a graduate of Laurel High School, lives in the Hyattsville arts district with his dog, Policy.