Politics & Government

Residents Ask County Council to Block Housing Authority Appointee

Groups say Eric Brown should not be "rubber stamped" as the leader of the Prince George's Housing Authority.

Representatives from two Prince George’s County advocacy groups are asking the County Council to block County Executive Rushern Baker’s pick to head the county’s housing authority after reports surfaced detailing a troubled work history.

 Citing a lax vetting process that did not thoroughly look into the employment history of Eric C. Brown, tapped earlier this month to head the county’s Housing Authority, representatives from the Prince George’s Real Estate Agents for Change and People for Change asked council members to vote against allowing Eric C. Brown to take the helm of the agency.  Brown’s appointment would have to be confirmed by a vote of the county council. 

 Requests from the groups were spurred by reports in The Washington Post that Brown had been suspended from his job as head of the housing authority in Meridian, MS, in 1993 for submitting a grant application with an unauthorized signature. The Post also reported that Brown, the former executive director of the Annapolis Housing Authority, had been fired from his job as deputy director of housing in Birmingham, AL.

Find out what's happening in Laurelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 Brown, according to the Post, said both actions were politically motivated.

 Ruth Wright, leader of the realtors group, urged council members not to “rubber stamp” Brown simply because he was Baker’s pick.  Citing previous county agency appointees who passed the council due to members abstaining from votes, she said it was important for the council to show leadership.

Find out what's happening in Laurelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 “Don’t let the council make the same mistake by allowing the same rubber stamping,” she said.  “Show Prince Georgians that this council is a council of real leadership. Show  [residents] you will not rubber stamp everything that the county executive proposes.”

Sandy Pruitt, a leader of People for Change, told the council that an independent investigator should assist in vetting candidates who are shortlisted to head agencies to avoid possible corruption.

“We are concerned about the process of he appointees that maybe coming before you,” she said.  “Please do not rubber stamp. Do not go along to get along.”

Council Chairwoman Ingrid Turner (D-Dist. 4) of Bowie did not directly respond to citizens’ comments but said the issue has not come before the council for a vote yet.

Scott Peterson, Baker’s spokesman, told The Washington Post that Brown had previous worked for the Annapolis Housing Authority and had rescued the agency from its “troubled” status.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here