Jolene Ivey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jolene Ivey
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| Member of the Prince George's County Council | |
| Assumed office December 3, 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Andrea Harrison (5th) Mel Franklin (at-large) |
| Succeeded by | TBD (5th) |
| Constituency | 5th district (2018–2024) At-large district (2024–present) |
| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 47th district |
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| In office January 10, 2007 – January 14, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Rosetta C. Parker |
| Succeeded by | Jimmy Tarlau |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jolene Stephenson
July 30, 1961 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 5, including Julian Ivey |
| Education | Towson University (BA) University of Maryland, College Park (MA) |
Jolene Ivey (born July 30, 1961) is an American politician. She has been a member of the Prince George's County Council since 2018. She first represented the 5th district and then the county's at-large district starting in 2024. She also served as the council's president from 2023 to 2025. Jolene Ivey is a member of the Democratic Party. Before joining the County Council, she was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 2007 to 2015.
In 2014, Ivey ran for lieutenant governor of Maryland with Doug Gansler. They came in second place in the election.
Early Life and Education
Jolene Ivey was born in Washington, D.C. on July 30, 1961. Her father, Joseph L. Stephenson, was an African-American captain in the U.S. Army during World War II. Her mother was Shirlita Hutchins.
Ivey graduated from High Point High School. She then went to Towson University. In 1982, she earned a degree in mass communication. Later, in 1992, she earned a master's degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Career Highlights
After college, Ivey worked in television. She was a co-host for Say Baltimore from 1983 to 1984. She also worked as a writer and producer for WMAR-TV until 1988. Since 1989, she has been a freelance writer.
Jolene Ivey first got involved in politics in high school. She was elected class representative in 1978. She later volunteered for Jesse Jackson's presidential campaign in 1984. From 1988 to 1989, she worked for U.S. Representative Ben Cardin. In 1997, she started Mocha Moms. This group supports mothers of color and works for policy changes.
Serving in the Maryland House of Delegates
Ivey ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in 2006. She won the Democratic primary election. She was sworn into office on January 10, 2007. She was part of the Ways and Means Committee. She also led the Prince George's County Delegation from 2012 to 2014.
Ivey focused on issues important to children and families. She supported same-sex marriage in Maryland. She also supported efforts to allow a casino in Prince George's County. In 2008, she was a delegate for Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention.
In 2012, Ivey defended a former state delegate. She said the delegate should keep her seat if a mistake was just "sloppy bookkeeping."
Running for Lieutenant Governor
In 2013, Jolene Ivey was chosen as the running mate for Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler. They ran together for lieutenant governor.
Gansler and Ivey lost the Democratic primary election in June 2014. They came in second place. If they had won, Ivey would have been the first African American woman from the Democratic Party to be lieutenant governor in the U.S. After the election, Ivey worked for Lerner Enterprises. She helped them try to bring the Federal Bureau of Investigation's new headquarters to Prince George's County.
Joining the Prince George's County Council
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In 2017, Ivey decided to run for the Prince George's County Council. She wanted to represent District 5. Her campaign focused on improving services for people in the county. She won the Democratic primary in June 2018. She then ran unopposed in the general election.
Jolene Ivey was sworn into the Prince George's County Council on December 3, 2018. She is known as a liberal member of the council. She ran for a second term in 2022 and was unopposed. In December 2023, the County Council voted for Ivey to be its chair. She served as chair until March 2025.
In June 2024, Ivey announced she would run for an at-large seat on the county council. She won the Democratic primary in August 2024. She then defeated Michael Riker in the general election in November 2024.
In October 2024, Ivey said she might run for Prince George's County Executive. She formally announced her campaign in December 2024. However, she withdrew from the race in February 2025. She later shared that she had health concerns.
Political Views
Education Initiatives
In 2013, Ivey supported a plan to give the county executive more control over the Prince George's County Public Schools. She called it an important step for the county. In 2014, she thought a proposal to expand pre-kindergarten was not enough money.
In 2020, Ivey voted against a plan to build six schools. She was worried about how transparent the partnership was. She also questioned the timing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fairness in Government
In 2012, Ivey introduced a bill. It would require elected officials to resign if found guilty of serious crimes. This was after a county councilmember faced charges.
Protecting the Environment
In February 2012, Ivey voted for a bill. This bill put a five-cent tax on plastic bags in Prince George's County.
Housing and Development
Ivey supports moving the Federal Bureau of Investigation's headquarters to Prince George's County. In 2013, she did not support plans to build on the University of Maryland Golf Course.
In 2014, Ivey introduced a bill to stop cell towers from being built on school properties. In 2019, she helped pass a bill to lower fees for food trucks. This made it easier for them to operate. In 2022, she supported laws to protect renters from unfair evictions.
In April 2024, Ivey shared concerns about capping rent increases. She felt it might not be a lasting solution. She worried it could make landlords leave the county.
Paid Time Off
In October 2015, Ivey supported a bill. This bill required businesses in Prince George's County to give employees up to seven days of paid sick leave each year.
Redrawing Districts
In 2021, Ivey voted against a plan to redraw county council districts. She thought the council should have used a map drawn by a special commission. The plan she voted against was later changed by a court.
Social Issues
Ivey has supported removing the Roger B. Taney Monument from the Maryland State House. She was there when it was removed in 2017. She also supported changing "Maryland, My Maryland" as the state song. In 2013, she proposed making November 1 "Maryland Emancipation Day." This day marks when slavery was ended in Maryland in 1864.
Ivey supported serious legal punishments at first. But she later voted to end them after her husband, Glenn Ivey, spoke about it. In 2011, Ivey supported the Civil Marriage Protection Act. This law made same-sex marriage in Maryland legal. She also appeared in an ad to support it in 2012.
In 2021, Ivey was concerned about the county's spending on legal defenses. She felt the county should do more to support African-Americans. In 2022, she voted against appointing a former councilmember to lead the county ethics office. She had concerns about his honesty.
Taxes and Spending
As a delegate, Ivey voted for increases to state taxes. These included taxes on businesses, sales, and gas. She did not support raising property taxes in Prince George's County during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Transportation
Ivey did not support plans to expand the Capital Beltway. She also opposed building a Maglev train connecting Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. She believed it would mostly help wealthy people. She also thought it would hurt the county by taking customers away from Amtrak.
Personal Life
Jolene Ivey met her husband, Glenn Ivey, through friends. They have been married since 1988. They have five children, including Maryland delegate Julian Ivey. The family lives in Cheverly, Maryland. Jolene Ivey is a member of the Cheverly United Methodist Church.
Images for kids
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Jolene Ivey
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Ivey and Kris Valderrama share info on House floor
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Ivey being sworn in as county councilmember in December 2018
