Four years ago there were no millennials on the Prince George鈥檚 County Council in Maryland. Today, five of the 11 seats on the council are filled by millennials.
This change was pointed out by Council member Tom Dernoga, during the swearing in of Council member Shayla Adams-Stafford earlier this week.
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 to the benefit of the county because we have a younger population,鈥� Dernoga said Tuesday. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 better that we reflect the population than with older folks like me, and I鈥檒l be retiring soon so I鈥檒l be replaced by someone younger and we鈥檒l be skewing even younger.鈥�
For at-large councilman Calvin Hawkins, it means the top-down style of politics in the county is on the way out, in favor of grassroots coalitions.
鈥淭hey are very supported by the community as a result of their touching the constituency,鈥� Hawkins said. 鈥淭hey are young, energetic, and they are getting their message out.鈥�
Some of the millennials on the council, including Adams-Stafford and council chair Ed Burroughs, the youngest to ever hold that position, said the leadership changes spring from a frustration among younger voters who feel they haven鈥檛 been listened to. And they argue, you鈥檒l notice a difference in how they lead compared to past generations.
鈥淲e have to lead with empathy and listening and not prescribing things on people 鈥� understanding that we don’t have all of the answers,” Adams-Stafford said. “Some things are unknown, but we have to work collectively. And I think that that’s sort of what I’ve noticed about other elected officials my age. They really are into listening, consensus building, pulling groups of people together and then finding a way forward collectively.鈥�
These millennial officials are also moving forward with more aggressiveness and urgency, too.
鈥淭he people of Prince George鈥檚 County are signaling that they want folks with energy that (are) going to fight for them,鈥� Burroughs said. 鈥淥ur values are clear and we鈥檙e willing to fight for them and we鈥檙e willing to collaborate to get things done but we won鈥檛 be denied the progress that we鈥檙e looking for.鈥�
Burroughs said this approach stems from the frustration he hears from residents, who aren鈥檛 sure they鈥檙e benefiting from the taxes the county collects from them.
鈥淲hat’s happening here is indicative that a younger generation cares about what’s happening in their backyard, and they’re stepping up to the call of leadership,鈥� Adams-Stafford said.
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