Election Year in Maryland 2026. “All Politics is Local,” according to former Speaker of the House, Congressman Tip O’Neill. I am focusing on our local elections. I sent two questions to the candidates running for County Council District 1 and the At-Large Council seats. District 1 includes Beltsville, Calverton, and Vansville Heights. There are three candidates for District 1 and eight candidates for the two At-Large County Council seats. 1) What do you believe is the Top C

Beltsville and Calverton Residents came together for No Kings Demonstration on March 28. On Saturday, March 28, approximately 300 community members gathered at the intersection of Powder Mill Road and Beltsville Drive for the second “No Kings” demonstration, hosted by Beltsville United. The event marked the group’s third community gathering, following an initial demonstration and a recent vigil that brought neighbors together in reflection and solidarity. The turnout reflecte

No, we have not endorsed Martin Mitchell for County Council! But Martin Mitchell wants you to think so. He also wants you to think that he has been endorsed by a host of other officials but he has not been. We did say something positive about him when he ran for Laurel City Council in 2021. However, he lost a lot of support running for Mayor in 2023, when the Laurel Independent (September 2023) reported about his past sexual assault charges (to which he pleaded guilty to a le

Join us once again at the Beltsville Community Festival I hope you will join Delegates Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Ben Barnes, Mary Lehman, and me at the family-friendly Beltsville Day Community Festival on Saturday, May 9, from noon until 4 p.m. at the Beltsville Community Center, 3900 Sellman Road. There will be a variety of free games, numerous food options, activities, and entertainment for children and adults of all ages. And join the Delegates and our staff at our annual post

(From left to right) Chief of Staff Michelle García, Jim Soltesz, Sejal Patel, Council Member Tom Dernoga, County Executive Aisha Braveboy, Kush Patel, and Karan Patel at the April District 1 Budget Town Hall. District 1 Community Conversation with CEX Aisha Braveboy Please join County Executive Aisha Braveboy and me for a Town Hall Meeting focused on the Proposed Budget and other issues. The Town Hall will be held on Thursday, April 9, at 6 PM at the BAPS Mandir, 4320 Ammen

Balancing the State Budget Balancing the state budget in a tough economy remains a significant challenge. The layoffs of federal employees and contractors, along with the closure of federal agencies, continue to impact Maryland’s families, businesses, and the state budget. At the same time, rising utility rates and gas prices are putting additional pressure on the state budget, just as they are on family budgets. As a result, the Governor and the legislature have had to make

Council Member Dernoga and District VI PGPD Major Saul Serpas at the March District 1 Community Conversation. District 1 Community Conversation with CEX Aisha Braveboy Please join County Executive Aisha Braveboy and me for a Town Hall Meeting focused on the Proposed Budget and other issues. The Town Hall will be held on Thursday, April 9, at 6 PM at the BAPS Mandir, 4320 Ammendale Road, Beltsville, MD 20705. This is a great opportunity to learn about the County Executive’s v

The photo is from the January 17 vigil on Route 1, which reflected on local and national incidents, honored those impacted, and stood in solidarity with families and individuals harmed by these actions. (Photo credit: Oscar Gregory) Beltsville residents will once again gather in peaceful solidarity on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 11AM to 1PM, as part of the nationwide “No Kings” movement. The local demonstration will take place at Beltsville Drive and Powder Mill Road, ne

Major issues on 2026 legislative session Holding down utility rates Electric and gas rates are too high and rising too fast. Last year, the legislature provided rebates on residential bills and directed the state Public Service Commission to crack down on PEPCO and Washington Gas rates and accelerate the expansion of cost-effective clean energy. But it’s not enough. That’s why this year Delegates Joseline Pena-Melnyk, Ben Barnes, Mary Lehman, and I are working to make sure

The District 1 team thanks and congratulates Daniel Douglas as he embarks on his next life chapter. While on our team, he served as a Constituent Services Specialist. He is now off to Belgium to continue his studies. He is pictured here with J.D. Perkins, President of the Vansville Heights Citizens Association (VHCA). Legislative Updates As we move into March, things are picking up in Largo and in Annapolis. Last month, I wrote about the Governor's Housing bill (HB 239/SB 36)

Let me know if you need help. With the recent federal government shutdown, rising prices, and continued attacks on federal workers and immigrants, many families in Beltsville are suffering. Delegates Joseline Pena-Melnyk, Ben Barnes, Mary Lehman, I, and our staffs are ready to be of assistance. We can’t solve every problem but will try to find you help you need. Just contact me at the email or phone number at the bottom of this column. Maryland health insurance exchange ope

On Saturday, October 18, our Beltsville community came together for something truly special. For the first time, as far as anyone can recall, Beltsville hosted a public display of solidarity for No Kings Day , a global movement that has inspired peaceful demonstrations across all fifty states and around the world. The gathering took place along Route 1 in front of 10701 Baltimore Avenue, where roughly fifty community members assembled to make their voices heard. Considering t

(From left to right) Council Member Tom Dernoga, County Executive Aisha Braveboy, and Jacob Sosa at the High Point High School Back to School Vaccine Clinic on Saturday, September 27, 2025. Federal Government Shutdown: Resources & What to Expect Council Member Dernoga stands in solidarity with our dedicated federal workers in District 1 during the ongoing Federal Government Shutdown that began on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. Our team has gathered a comprehensive list of resour

Senate College Scholarship Winners Each year, I am able to award college (and workforce) scholarships to high school graduates in Beltsville. I can do this every year, so please be sure your kids apply. Here are the names of this year’s recipients: Chigozie Umeh Akaylah Richardson Laura Chima Lance Nobles Karim Njoya Kevin Devarez Jacquelyn Letizia Naphtaly Barthelemy Kendal Anderson Cesia Turcios Tiffany Molina Michael Bielec Kahar Alassani Congratulations to all of the appl

(From Left to Right) Ms. Lois Hamilton, President of the Beltsville Young at Heart Club, club attendees, and Chief of Staff Michelle García at the Beltsville Young at Heart Club’s recent Community Conversation to raise awareness about elder fraud and financial crimes targeting older adults. Pepco Customer Relief Fund Beginning July 18, 2025, Pepco and the Salvation Army launched a one-time relief fund that provides financial support for those challenged by high energy costs.

From left to right: Senator Jim Rosapepe, Maryland-District 21; Dr. Miguel Chacón, Principal, High Point High School; Ayisha Braveboy, County Executive, Prince George's County County Executive Braveboy visits High Point High School in Beltsville At our request, Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy chose High Point High School as one of her first stops of the new school year, visiting the Beltsville campus on September 3, 2025. Braveboy met with students and staff a

Council Member Dernoga's Team Pairing for 400+ Guests at the Konterra Town Hall (left to right)- Daniel Douglas, Liya Shewakena,...

Protecting the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center As you may have heard, as part of Donald Trump’s attack on our people, our state,...

Councilmember Tom Dernoga at the U.S. District Court advocating for the release of Beltsville resident, Mr. Kilmar Ábrego García on July...

We’re here for DOGED Federal employees and contractors Recent federal layoffs have deeply affected many Marylanders, including right here...