Since beginning his career in public service in 2001, Mel Franklin has proven time and again his leadership in advocating for your rights, your community and your voice.
A proven leader in focusing on jobs, schools, safety and higher quality economic growth, to name just a few of our most pressing issues, Mel “hit the ground running” when he was elected to the County Council in 2010, and has not stopped in the 12 years since. During his 3-term tenure, he has proposed over 100 pieces of legislation that have been passed into law by the County Council and successfully spearheaded dozens of projects for the community. Here are some highlights:
ON JOBS AND THE ECONOMY
- Proposed and enacted the Jobs First Act, which require that
- At least 40% of revenue in each county contract over 100K go to county-based businesses and all contracts below 100K in value go to county-based small businesses.
- Each county contract shall seek to employ county residents for at least 51% of the contract’s work
- Of the over $300 million in annual procurement spending, each county agency must spend 50% or more with county-based businesses and 30% or more with county-based small and minority-owned businesses
- Supported the establishment of the county’s first Economic Development Incentive Fund, which has leveraged $2.4 million in loans to spur $26 million in private investment in the county
- Proposed and established a new Local Business Loan program solely for locally owned and operated businesses
- Proposed and established an $11 million jobs stimulus tax incentive for development at Branch Avenue Metro Station, which led to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Headquarters locating near that location
- Approved a tax incentive for the expansion of Brandywine Crossing Shopping Center, including a new movie theater and restaurants
- Proposed and established a quicker, more reliable planning & development review process for mixed-use development within a ½ mile radius of a metro station, especially when a federal government tenant is involved
- Partnered with the State and University of Maryland on an agreement for a $600+ million new Regional Medical Center to replace Prince George’s Hospital Center
- Garnered the Council’s endorsement for MedStar’s $125 million future expansion of So. MD Hospital in Clinton
- Awarded $10,000 to expand agribusinesses in the rural tier, like vineyards.
- Supported the establishment of a new permitting agency to streamline all county permitting responsibilities under one roof (the “one stop shop” approach)
- Proposed a reformed and expanded summer youth jobs program, which became effective in 2014
PUBLIC SAFETY
- Obtained $4.1 million in funding for the construction of District VII Police Station, which shall serve much of south county and reduce response times
- Obtained $6 million in funding for the construction of a new Brandywine Fire Station
- Approved county budgets that have added new police and fire cadet classes each year countywide
- Proposed and established requirements that 24-hour convenience stores provide more security and less money in cash registers between 11PM and 6AM to reduce robberies
- Proposed and established requirements that designs for new development are reviewed by the police department to ensure they are constructed with the proper crime prevention features
- Established a Fatherhood Initiative to encourage a reduction in fatherhood absence and premature fatherhood in District 9 communities
- Because of county investments in public safety, Prince George’s County was at a 30-year low in violent crime in 2018, incl. a 58% drop in violent crime from 2010 to 2018.
EDUCATION
- Approved millions in funding for new construction and renovation of Accokeek Academy and funding for the renovation and expansion of Clinton Grove Elementary and Stephen Decatur Middle schools
- Obtained $5 million in county funding for a new, state of the art Environmental Education Center at Accokeek’s Hard Bargain Farm
- Expanded public library funding in 2013 to prevent overall cuts in service and expand weekend hours at certain locations
- Proposed and obtained funding for a new athletic turf field for Gwynn Park High School
- Awarded $25000 in technology grants for District 9 middle schools in 2013
- Supported successful state efforts to raise Maryland’s dropout age from 16 to 18 by 2017
RECREATION
- Obtained $42 million for the construction of an 80,000 sq. ft. multigenerational Southern Area Aquatic and Recreation Complex (SAARC) in District 9 by the first of 2017
- Proposed and obtained funding for new athletic turf fields for Gwynn Park High School and Dr. Henry Wise High School
- An advocate for the expansion of existing parks and recreation programs in conventional school buildings during off hours
TRANSPORTATION
- Established a new county bus service, Route 36 on the MD5/US301 corridor, for District 9 residents
- Obtained $5 million in state funding towards the establishment of Light Rail on the MD5/US301 corridor
RURAL TIER AND THE ENVIRONMENT
- Approved growth policies that will ensure the long-term preservation the rural tier
- Protected funding for rural tier private property preservation programs
- Proposed and established legislation to guarantee the “right to farm” in the rural tier
- Awarded $10,000 to expand agribusinesses in District 9’s rural tier, like vineyards.
- Strengthened the county’s policies to reduce stormwater runoff from new development into regional rivers and streams
- Obtained $5 million in county funding for a new, state of the art Environmental Education Center at Accokeek’s Hard Bargain Farm
GOOD GOVERNMENT
- Proposed and established a county website that allows county residents to track who is receiving county dollars
- Has held dozens of District 9 community advisory meetings to obtain feedback directly from County residents