Q&A with District 3 County Council Candidates: Al Whiting

Al Whiting, of Riverdale, is a political newcomer seeking a term as District 3's
county councilman against incumbent Eric Olsen. Whiting, 55, is a former business owner, who has past experience as an insurance agent, mechanic and as a private pilot. He went to Duval High School and attended Prince George's Community College. He lives off Auburn Avenue with his wife, Toni, and their four children.

The area has seen rapid growth recently. What is your approach to development?

Let it Flow, I like what I see and I think more development is necessary to solve many of the County's problems. More Development usually means more jobs. This County needs more jobs. Full employment usually means less crime. Less Crime would be nice. This County needs more better paying jobs. More better paying jobs usually mean there is a better tax base which can equate to better schools and more abundant public services without raising the property taxes of the current property owners thru the roof!

A lot of resources are lacking in classrooms right now. In what ways do you plan to bolster the quality of education?

The Prince George's County School System has many problems that need to be
addressed, too numerous to name here. Many of this School System's problems do not exist in other School Districts. The size and diversity of this School System present some unique challenges for our educators. We will have to be innovative in our approach to solving these problems. In the past, the school system's budget has been the largest single item to be considered in the County budget and it will have to be managed carefully. We will be working hard to provide the best school system possible.

Prince George's County has a reputation for crime. How do you plan to make the county safer?

We have got to make the police here in the County actually respond to the crime that is overtaking our Community. It has been my personal experience to receive a very slow response and at least once I never got any response at all. They were not hired to just provide traffic control and raise money for the County coffers by handing out traffic tickets. Many Police Officers working in Prince George's County simply need more training. If the present Officers can't get the job done, we may have hire more Officers, provide them with better training and skills.

What are the goals for your term? What programs or projects do you want to undertake?

I want to make the entire Prince George's County Government more responsive to the residents. As a Black Man in this Community for over 50 Years I have had more than my share of harassment. After all, this County is supposed to be working for us.

Property Taxes are out of control. I intend to do what I can to reign them in. This County has a lot of nerve threatening the residents with the loss of essential services if they can't raise taxes. Stopping the Purple Line should go along way to hold the line on tax increases.