2026 Candidate Spotlight: Meet Michelle García

BELTSVILLE, MD — Michelle García has entered the race for Prince George's County Council District 1. Patch posed questions to each candidate running for office.

Below you will find García's responses, verbatim:

Name: Michelle García

Age on Election Day: 51

Hometown: Beltsville, Maryland

Political Affiliation: Democrat

Email address: contact@michellejgarcia.com

Campaign website: michellejgarcia.com

Do you have any previous political experience? If so, please state and explain how that experience will influence your time in office if elected.

Yes. I have spent more than 15 years working in government and public service. I began my government career as Chief of Staff to Delegate, now Speaker, Joseline Peña-Melnyk. I later
worked for Senator Jim Rosapepe, continuing my focus on public policy, constituent services, and advancing equitable outcomes. Since 2018, I have served as Chief of Staff to Council
Member Tom Dernoga, where I have worked extensively on County budgets, legislation, land use issues, constituent services, and community engagement.

These experiences have given me a deep understanding of how government works at both the state and local levels. I have worked with residents and stakeholders to solve complex
community issues, and collaborated with elected officials, labor unions, advocacy organizations, and community leaders to advance policy solutions.

If elected, I will be prepared to serve effectively from day one. I understand the responsibilities of the County Council, the budget process, and the challenges facing District 1. My experience will allow me to immediately focus on delivering results for residents and ensuring County government is transparent, responsive, and accountable.

What do you believe is the single-most important issue facing voters in the district you’re looking to represent? How do you intend to address those issues?

If I had to identify a single issue that affects every challenge facing District 1, it would be transparency and effectiveness in government. Whether we are talking about housing affordability, education, public safety, economic development, or environmental protection, residents deserve a government that is open, accountable, and focused on results.

Too often, residents feel disconnected from the decisions that affect their lives and unsure of how public dollars are being spent. I want to make County government more transparent,
accessible, and responsive by improving public engagement, strengthening oversight of spending, and making it easier for residents to understand and participate in the decision-making process.

That commitment to accountability is also why I chose to run as a publicly financed candidate. I am the only candidate in this race participating in the County's public financing system, which means I cannot accept contributions from PACs, developers, or businesses. My campaign is funded by small donations from residents, ensuring that I remain accountable to the people of District 1 and no one else.

How do you differ from other candidates running against you?
What distinguishes me in this race is the combination of experience, accountability, and community support that I bring to the position. I have spent more than fifteen years serving Prince George's County residents through government and public service, including as Chief of Staff at both the state and county levels. I have also served seven years in elected office as a member of the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee, where I was twice elected and gained valuable experience in community organizing, voter engagement, and local party leadership.

I am honored to have earned the endorsement of Council Member Tom Dernoga, whose seat I am seeking, as well as the support of the entire District 21 legislative team, numerous labor unions, progressive organizations, and more than 50 elected officials and community leaders.

How would your work experience benefit the goals/objectives you’ve outlined in your campaign and/or the office you’re seeking?
My professional experience has given me a deep understanding of how the government works and how to turn ideas into results. Having served in leadership roles at both the state and local levels, I have experience developing policy, managing budgets, building coalitions, and helping
residents navigate government services. I have worked closely with community organizations, labor unions, advocates, businesses, and elected officials to address complex challenges and find practical solutions.

This experience will allow me to be effective from day one. Most importantly, I have spent my career listening to residents and helping solve problems, which directly aligns with my campaign's goals of building a more transparent, responsive, and accountable government.

What is your opinion of the work being done by the current office holder, and how will you improve on it? If that is you - how do you plan to continue improving upon what you've already accomplished?

Council Member Tom Dernoga has served District 1 with dedication and integrity for many years, and I have been fortunate to work alongside him as his Chief of Staff. During that time, I have helped advance legislation, assist residents with navigating government services, address
community concerns, and support efforts to improve public safety, environmental protection, and quality of life throughout the district.

Council Member Dernoga's experience, commitment to transparency, and deep knowledge of the County have made him an effective advocate for District 1. As his successor, I intend to build upon that foundation while bringing my own perspective and leadership style to the office.

My experience working within County government has given me insight into both what works and where improvements can be made. I want to continue strengthening constituent services, increase transparency and public engagement, and ensure County government is more accessible, responsive, and efficient. My goal is not only to continue the progress that has been made, but to build a government that better meets the evolving needs of District 1 residents.

How do you feel about the school system in your area and what improvements would you like to see be made?
Prince George's County has dedicated educators, administrators, and school staff who work hard every day on behalf of our students. However, we continue to face challenges with aging school facilities, workforce retention, and ensuring every student has access to the resources
they need to succeed.

Education is one of my top priorities, and I believe we must address root causes rather than rely on temporary fixes. I will advocate for long-overdue investments in schools like High Point High School, which has suffered from years of deferred maintenance and infrastructure challenges. Students and educators deserve safe, modern learning environments that support academic success.

I also support investing in early childhood education through universal pre-K and affordable childcare so children begin school ready to learn. Finally, we must do more to recruit and retain educators by ensuring compensation reflects the cost of living and by providing the support necessary for teachers and school staff to thrive.

I am proud to have earned the endorsement of the Prince George's County Educators' Association (PGCEA), a recognition I do not take lightly. It reflects my commitment to supporting educators, strengthening our schools, and ensuring every student has the opportunity to
succeed.

How do you feel about crime in your area and what steps can be taken to reduce it?

I would oppose any effort to force local authorities to collaborate with federal detention and deportation operations.
Immigrants have always been and continue to be the backbone of Prince George’s County and the County. I am deeply concerned by federal enforcement actions that disregard due process, rely on excessive force, and create fear and instability in our communities. Local government should focus on public safety, public health, education, and economic opportunity, not federal immigration enforcement.

Forcing local authorities to participate in detention and deportation efforts undermines trust between residents and government, making communities less safe. I support policies that protect due process, uphold human dignity, and ensure all residents can safely access local services without fear.

Transparency and accountability are essential to building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. I support stronger transparency around police misconduct and
continued evaluation of use-of-force policies to ensure policing is fair, accountable, and focused on community safety.
At the same time, we must invest in prevention and community-based solutions. Many situations currently handled by law enforcement, such as mental health crises, substance use, or housing instability, are better addressed by trained health and social service professionals. Expanding
crisis response programs and trauma-informed care can improve outcomes while allowing police to focus on serious public safety concerns.

I also strongly support restorative justice approaches, particularly for youth. The Prince George’s County Teen Court program demonstrated remarkable results, with 98% of
participants avoiding further involvement with the Department of Juvenile Services and 100% of records successfully diverted upon completion. These outcomes show that community-based programs can hold young people accountable while keeping them on a positive path.

What do you think about the economic climate and business sector in your community, and what initiatives could propel it forward?

Prince George's County has tremendous economic potential, but we remain overly dependent on federal employment and have not grown our commercial tax base as aggressively as we
should. Recent uncertainty surrounding federal jobs has highlighted the importance of building a more resilient and diversified local economy.

Economic development must be rooted in creating good, family-sustaining jobs and strengthening working families. Throughout my career in state and county government, I have
worked closely with labor partners and understand the critical role unions play in building a strong and equitable economy. I support Project Labor Agreements and strong labor standards
to ensure publicly funded projects create high-quality jobs with fair wages, benefits, and safe working conditions.

I also support expanding workforce development and apprenticeship opportunities, investing in emerging industries such as clean energy, technology, healthcare, and cybersecurity, and helping small businesses start, grow, and succeed. We should embrace strategic transit-oriented development that creates housing, jobs, and economic activity around existing infrastructure while protecting existing communities from displacement.

My goal is to build an economy that is more resilient, more inclusive, and less dependent on decisions made in Washington, while ensuring that the benefits of growth are shared by the residents who call Prince George's County home.

How do you feel about transportation options in the area and what, if anything, should be improved upon?

Transportation options in Northern Prince George's County remain limited, and too many residents are forced to rely on cars to get to work, school, healthcare appointments, and other essential destinations. While parts of the County benefit from direct Metro access, many District 1 communities do not have the same level of transit connectivity.

We need to improve bus service, strengthen connections to MARC and regional transit systems, and invest in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure that makes it safer and easier to move throughout our communities. At the same time, transportation planning should be integrated with housing, economic development, and environmental goals.

I support smart land use that prioritizes transit-oriented development where transit exists, reduces sprawl, and makes better use of public infrastructure investments. We should
encourage housing, small businesses, and jobs near transit while discouraging speculation that leaves valuable land vacant and underutilized. I am also committed to protecting green spaces and ensuring growth is sustainable and community-centered.

My goal is to create a transportation system that improves mobility, expands opportunity, and connects residents to jobs, services, and each other while supporting the long-term health of our communities and environment.

What else would you like voters to know about you?
I want voters to know that my commitment to public service comes from lived experience. I come from a working-class family. My father, a Peruvian immigrant and laborer, built a small construction business in Prince George's County, and my mother worked in an office and cleaned houses at night and on weekends to support our family. Their example taught me the
value of hard work, sacrifice, and community.

As a single mother, I worked while earning my degree and building a career in public service. Those experiences shaped my belief that government should work for everyday people and that elected officials have a responsibility to make a meaningful difference in their communities.

One of the accomplishments I am most proud of was helping lead the effort to pass Kari's Law in Maryland. The law was inspired by the tragic story of a young girl who was unable to reach 911 during a domestic violence emergency because the phone required an extra digit to access an outside line. Today, because of that effort, Marylanders can directly dial 911 from hotels and many other multi-line phone systems without any additional steps. It reinforced my belief that government can save lives when we identify problems and have the courage to fix them.

I am running for County Council because I believe government can be a force for good when it is transparent, accountable, and focused on the needs of residents. My goal has always been
simple: to leave my community better than I found it.