Prince George’s County Council Chairman Mel Franklin was unanimously elected by his colleagues on Tuesday to continue leading the legislative body during the 2015 session.
Franklin (D-Upper Marlboro), 39, a former Federal Trade Commission attorney turned community activist, is widely expected to run for county executive in 2018.
He is the third council member in recent history to win two consecutive terms as chairman. Former chair Peter Shapiro, who now heads the county’s Revenue Authority, was the first to do so in 2002 and 2003. Read More…

December 23^rd, 2013

Today is a tremendous day for working families across Prince George’s County as the minimum wage increase bill was signed into law by County Executive Rushern Baker. The bill, recently passed by County Council Chairman Mel Franklin and the county council, will increase the minimum wage incrementally from $8.14 to $11.50 by 2017. Mel knows people are struggling to provide for their families and that, “an honest day’s work deserves an honest day’s pay.” As County Council Chairman, Mel will continue to advocate for working families across Prince George’s County. Read…

Mel Franklin has announced an exciting partnership with the National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI). The two-year project aims to increase father involvement and reduce the possibility of father absence in the lives of children in the 9th District of Prince George’s County. Mel knows that, “responsible fatherhood directly impacts quality of life issues in Prince George’s County. We must take action to promote and support strong fathers in our households and neighborhoods.” The initiative will work across eleven sectors with a goal of increasing the involvement of fathers and father-figures in the lives of Prince George’s County children. Read…

Again at a community meeting tonight, and at several times over the last couple of years, prominent law enforcement officials have told me that it is well-known among criminals that it is far more preferable and less risky to commit crime here in Prince George’s County rather than in Virginia because sentencing here is much more lenient and offenders actually serve a significantly less percentage of their sentences here as compared with Virginia (because of Virginia’s “truth in sentencing” laws, which mandate offenders serving at least 85% of sentences for many crimes).

There is no advantage in our county being perceived as more lenient in dealing with crime than our neighbors. This cannot (and will not) continue.