PRIORITIES
YOUR VOICE . YOUR LEADER . YOUR FUTURE
With over 30 years of Government experience, Calvin is dedicated to serving the people of Prince George’s County and is known as:
"The People's Champion"
Economic Development
We will take the tax burden off homeowners and bring more commerce to Prince George’s County by expanding our commercial tax base and making it easier to do business.
-
Prince George’s County has become one of the top job creators in the state. Over the past 12 years, we have doubled the number of new businesses started in the County. Now, more businesses are formed in Prince George’s than in any other county in Maryland. As of 2022 (most recent data), more than 22,400 businesses were formed in Prince George’s, more than double the number in 2012.
-
Still, commercial tax revenue accounts for only 30 percent of the County’s revenue, unlike Montgomery County, where the comparable revenues are 70 percent. Those numbers will change under a Calvin Hawkins administration.
-
We have the most undeveloped land in the region and lower real estate costs than our neighbors. We should use that to bring new businesses and jobs to our county. One important source of revenue is from data centers. We will balance the economic support they bring against the environmental impact by locating data centers in rural areas to protect neighborhoods and residents.
-
With that in mind, local businesses won’t get left behind. We’ll help them compete for county contracts and grow right here in our community. We will establish a NEW Office of Business Advancement, which will offer concierge services to support business development and expansion, assist with permits, resolve state agency issues, and identify financial incentives while simplifying the process with designated contacts in all executive agencies.
Public Safety
Public safety must focus on prevention and protection. We will support law enforcement while investing in community-based programs that build trust and reduce crime. Public safety is about more than just law enforcement—it’s about creating opportunity and addressing the root causes of crime.
-
We will take a public health approach to tackle the root causes of crime like poverty, social exclusion, and education. We will lead a county-wide effort to prevent residents from getting into violent crime by bringing in our educators, faith community, non-profits, and community leaders to create programs that will make our neighborhoods safer.
-
We will work with the police and sheriff departments to develop a comprehensive public safety strategy that includes regional collaboration, community policing, and better resource allocation.
-
We will introduce legislation to create a Regional Public Safety Council to address shared challenges like gun violence and human trafficking.
-
Though crime is down (violent crime by 3 percent, homicides by 5 percent, and carjackings by 33 percent), the public perception is that serious crime is still rampant. We have an initiative to increase the police force by providing an additional $1.5 million for annual bonuses which will work to attract new officers.
Education
Every child deserves a world-class education, no matter their ZIP code. I will work to ensure safe, modern schools with robust support for educators and students through ongoing professional development and resources, while preparing students for the 21st century with a focus on STEM, artificial intelligence and personalized learning.
-
By building on existing successful programs and leveraging transformative partnerships with federal agencies, universities, and industry leaders, we will position Prince George’s County Public Schools as a beacon of innovation and excellence.
-
We will fight to make sure that our teachers are well paid and that we continue to recruit and train the very best teachers. We will build on the existing Professional Educator Induction Program by expanding it to include artificial intelligence (AI) training for teachers and establishing teacher fellowships to fund research and classroom innovation instructional methods.
-
We will fight to lower the cost of higher education – working with Senator Alsobrooks to expand Pell Grants, encouraging our County Attorney to take on predatory lenders that target students, and make community/technical programs more accessible for our young people.
-
Our schools must not only have excellent teachers but there must be a safe environment for learning. We will continue to advocate for having weapons detectors in every Prince George’s County high school and some middle schools.
Seniors & Veterans
All in Prince George’s County deserve access to opportunities and affordable housing. We will work to ensure those who are often overlooked, including our seniors and veterans, have what they need to thrive in Prince George’s County.
-
Seniors deserve to age with dignity. We’ll expand services for seniors, from housing to healthcare. We will continue to support the pilot program that guarantees a basic income for up to 175 seniors and young people in the County.
-
We will work to create Senior Advisory Committees on Education, Public Safety, and Public Health, ensuring seniors have a seat at the table.
-
We will continue the Office of Veteran Affairs, established by Angela Alsobrooks to serve the 60,000 men and women in Prince George’s County who have given so much for our country.
-
We will continue collaborating with Employ Prince George’s and the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation to inform veterans about state job opportunities, as well as continue to work with agencies like the Department of Commerce and the Department of Health and Human Services to promote the hiring of veterans.
Balancing The Budget
We will balance the budget and find efficiencies with smart, sustainable solutions that don’t sacrifice essential services.
-
We will work with county departments to find operational cuts that will not impact the delivery of services to our residents. We also will have to use reserves to close the current deficit.
-
But this is not sustainable—we have an urgent need for commercial tax revenue so that we stop balancing the budget on the backs of homeowners. We will focus on economic development that increases our commercial tax base, focus on investing in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and the construction of five new town centers while also investing in existing neighborhoods.
-
By combining fiscal responsibility with targeted economic development, we will protect our AAA bond rating for development that supports the future needs of our rapidly growing county.