The pool of candidates vying for the Prince George's County Council District 1 seat of outgoing member Thomas Dernoga just got larger with the announcement by City Councilman Frederick Smalls that he plans to enter the race.

"I've put my hat in the ring and have decided to run," Smalls said this week in an interview. "It's been known to a number of people that I've wanted to run for County Council for some time, so this isn't something that I just woke up and decided to do."

The deciding factor for Smalls, he said, was the decision by former state Del. Brian Moe not to seek Dernoga's seat. Moe, the younger brother of Mayor Craig Moe, had expressed an interest in the County Council seat, but Smalls said he learned two weeks ago that Moe would not be entering the race.

"Once Brian decided he wasn't going to run, I started rethinking what would it take for me to run," Smalls said. "I've had long talks with my wife, who was always aware of my wanting to broaden my service to Prince George's County, and her support was key to my decision."

Smalls said he is putting together a campaign team and making plans to be more visible in the area. He has not officially filed to run for the council seat, but said he plans to within the next week.

In terms of issues he will focus on if elected to the council, Smalls said economic development and improving the county's school system are top priorities.

"I'm mapping out specifics and will lay them out within a couple of weeks," he said. "In addition to education being a huge priority, considering the challenges our school system faces, public safety and health are also priorities. We have an ailing health care system, the hospital system, that has to be looked at closely because our residents depend on it."

Smalls, who is serving his fourth, two-year term as a member of the Laurel City Council, was the first black to serve as the council's president. He is currently employed as director of administration, finance and human resources for the Maryland Secretary of State's office. In 2006, he was the general manager for the city of Glenarden for almost a year. He said those positions plus his political experience qualify him for the seat being vacated by Dernoga.

"But even more than my eight years of experience as an elected official, I've been a PTA president and, in 2004, was the president of the Prince George's County Municipal Association, have served as their (PGCMA) vice president and been on their executive committee for eight years," Smalls said. "I've also been associated with various other associations in the county."

The primary election for the County Council race will be held in September, with the general election in November. Term limits prevent Dernoga from running for re-election on the County Council.

Smalls is expected to face union activist Samuel Epps, of Laurel, who announced his intention to run in August, and Valerie Cunningham, a city volunteer and community activist, who announced her intention to seek the seat in November. Additionally, Mary Lehman, a former Dernoga aide and past president of the West Laurel Civic Association, announced her candidacy for the District 1 seat in June.

Dernoga, who is expected to run for the State's Attorney for Prince George's County, has endorsed Lehman as his successor.Lehman currently works as the legislative aide to State Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk, who has come out in support of Lehman's candidacy as well. But even with Lehman's endorsements from locally recognizable names, Smalls said he is optimistic about his chances of winning the election.

"I don't approach something like this without being positive because it's a huge commitment from me and my family, so I'm not entering it half-heartedly, but I'm going in with the attitude that I'm going to win," Smalls said.

As to his thoughts about having to give up his seat on the Laurel City Council if his election bid for County Council is successful, Smalls said, "The council has been a big, big part of my life for eight years and leaving it has taken a lot of thought. But as a District 1 councilman, I will work closely with the City Council. What's equally important is that I'll have an opportunity in the county seat to reach out to areas outside of Laurel in the district and help them with their concerns.

"I look forward to that opportunity to work with community leaders and state politicians," Smalls said.

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