Jolene Ivey is running for a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates.
The Sentinel: "J. Ivey to run for House of Delegates
Jolene Ivey is running for a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates.
By Mike Sarzo
Sentinel Staff Writer
Jolene Ivey, a mother of five, civic activist and a Cheverly resident who is married to Prince George's state's attorney Glenn Ivey (D), announced her candidacy May 9 for a seat on the Maryland House of Delegates. If elected, Ivey would represent the 47th district as a Democrat.
"I think I've got a better idea of how much help we need," than many new candidates, Ivey said in an interview at The Sentinel offices last Wednesday. "I wouldn't sit back and let the county flounder."
When asked how the county has floundered, she said, "people need to get along," Ivey said. She said it was "ignorant" to let personalities get in the way of getting the job done, by letting dislike of another person prevent people from working with people they dislike.
The four issues that are central to her platform are crime, education, senior services and quality of life, according to her campaign Web site. However, her Web site lists the number one issue facing her campaign as one that may not be apparent at first glance, her racial identity.
"For the record, I am black," she said on her web site. Ivey founded a group called Mocha Moms, a support group for stay-at-home mothers of color that she said she founded because of unique concerns she faced that white stay at home moms did not.
"I didn't have a lot of friends" who were stay-at-home mothers, she said. The other stay at home mothers in her friendship circle "didn't always get my jokes." That led her and another friend to publish a newsletter that expressed her concerns. After they published the newsletter, she said she got calls from other stay at home mothers of color asking when they would have a meeting.
As the group grew, she submitted a request to get Mocha Moms recognized as a 501C3 non-profit and was denied, but she persisted until the IRS eventually granted it.
Hard work and determination are two things that set her apart, she said.
"I'm the only candidate with young children," Ivey said. "The people who win have to be people to represent the county. We've clearly demonstrated a commitment to the public schools."
Ivey said that she and other concerned parents fought repeated efforts by the county to change the zoning for Judith B. Hoyer school to zone Cheverly kids out of the Cheverly school.
She also supported the community in the controversy surrounding Washington Gas' continued efforts to build a compressed natural gas facility near the West Hyattsville Metro Station.
"This whole issue, it seems kind of silly, doesn't it," Ivey asked. "They think they should be allowed" to build the facility, but "we have no idea if it's safe."
Ivey may run on a ticket with Del. Doyle Niemann (D) and Del. Victor Ramirez (D), two of the incumbent Democrats in the 47th district. Del. Rosetta Parker, the other incumbent Democrat, is reportedly running on her own after not being invited to run with Niemann and Ramirez.
She also said that her marriage to Glenn Ivey had little effect on her political aspirations and he didn't directly influence her campaigning. She said he has been very helpful and supportive, but by doing the cooking and picking up other responsibilities around the house while Jolene Ivey campaigns.
"That's the only thing" that Glenn Ivey has done differently with Jolene Ivey campaigning for office.
Photo by Mike Sarzo"
Jolene Ivey is running for a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates.
By Mike Sarzo
Sentinel Staff Writer
Jolene Ivey, a mother of five, civic activist and a Cheverly resident who is married to Prince George's state's attorney Glenn Ivey (D), announced her candidacy May 9 for a seat on the Maryland House of Delegates. If elected, Ivey would represent the 47th district as a Democrat.
"I think I've got a better idea of how much help we need," than many new candidates, Ivey said in an interview at The Sentinel offices last Wednesday. "I wouldn't sit back and let the county flounder."
When asked how the county has floundered, she said, "people need to get along," Ivey said. She said it was "ignorant" to let personalities get in the way of getting the job done, by letting dislike of another person prevent people from working with people they dislike.
The four issues that are central to her platform are crime, education, senior services and quality of life, according to her campaign Web site. However, her Web site lists the number one issue facing her campaign as one that may not be apparent at first glance, her racial identity.
"For the record, I am black," she said on her web site. Ivey founded a group called Mocha Moms, a support group for stay-at-home mothers of color that she said she founded because of unique concerns she faced that white stay at home moms did not.
"I didn't have a lot of friends" who were stay-at-home mothers, she said. The other stay at home mothers in her friendship circle "didn't always get my jokes." That led her and another friend to publish a newsletter that expressed her concerns. After they published the newsletter, she said she got calls from other stay at home mothers of color asking when they would have a meeting.
As the group grew, she submitted a request to get Mocha Moms recognized as a 501C3 non-profit and was denied, but she persisted until the IRS eventually granted it.
Hard work and determination are two things that set her apart, she said.
"I'm the only candidate with young children," Ivey said. "The people who win have to be people to represent the county. We've clearly demonstrated a commitment to the public schools."
Ivey said that she and other concerned parents fought repeated efforts by the county to change the zoning for Judith B. Hoyer school to zone Cheverly kids out of the Cheverly school.
She also supported the community in the controversy surrounding Washington Gas' continued efforts to build a compressed natural gas facility near the West Hyattsville Metro Station.
"This whole issue, it seems kind of silly, doesn't it," Ivey asked. "They think they should be allowed" to build the facility, but "we have no idea if it's safe."
Ivey may run on a ticket with Del. Doyle Niemann (D) and Del. Victor Ramirez (D), two of the incumbent Democrats in the 47th district. Del. Rosetta Parker, the other incumbent Democrat, is reportedly running on her own after not being invited to run with Niemann and Ramirez.
She also said that her marriage to Glenn Ivey had little effect on her political aspirations and he didn't directly influence her campaigning. She said he has been very helpful and supportive, but by doing the cooking and picking up other responsibilities around the house while Jolene Ivey campaigns.
"That's the only thing" that Glenn Ivey has done differently with Jolene Ivey campaigning for office.
Photo by Mike Sarzo"
posted by Barry O'Connell at 11:12 AM
<< Home