Tara H. Jackson is an American lawyer and public administrator serving as the acting county executive of Prince George's County, Maryland since 2024. She previously served the county as chief administrative officer and as the deputy county attorney for government operations.
Tara Jackson | |
|---|---|
| Acting Executive of Prince George's County | |
| Assumed office December 2, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Angela Alsobrooks |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic[1] |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | James Madison University University of Maryland, Baltimore Phoenix Seminary |
Education
editTara H. Jackson earned a B.S. from James Madison University.[2] She pursued further studies at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, where she obtained a J.D.[2] Later, she completed a Master of Divinity in Leadership Development at the Phoenix Seminary.[2]
Career
editTara H. Jackson began her career in public service as a line prosecutor in the Maryland State's Attorney's Office, where she was tasked with making discretionary decisions in criminal cases.[2][3] She then spent eight years in private practice handling criminal, civil, and administrative cases.[2] Returning to public service, Jackson served as principal deputy state's attorney in Prince George's County, Maryland, focusing on administrative responsibilities and leadership.[2]
Jackson later became deputy county attorney for government operations, providing legal counsel to government agencies within the county.[4][5] She subsequently moved to the Office of the County Executive as deputy chief administrative officer (DCAO) for government operations in 2018, overseeing multiple departments and playing a key role in streamlining county operations.[5][4][3]
In December 2020, Jackson was appointed by county executive Angela Alsobrooks as the chief administrative officer (CAO) for Prince George's County, replacing Major F. Riddick.[4][6] During her tenure as CAO, she led the county's transition to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic in Maryland, established vaccination centers, and managed federal relief funds.[2][7] Her responsibilities included guiding the county's fiscal policies and developing annual budgets.[8]
On December 2, 2024, Jackson became acting county executive following Alsobrooks' resignation to serve in the U.S. Senate.[8][9] As acting county executive, Jackson has emphasized maintaining government stability and addressing the county’s financial challenges, including a projected $150 million budget deficit.[3][8] She also highlighted priorities such as healthcare funding and ensuring efficient snow removal and waste management.[3][7][8]
Jackson has publicly stated she does not intend to seek election for the permanent county executive role and views her tenure as a transitional period.[3][8]
Personal life
editJackson is married to Lawrence Paul Jackson II, and they have one son.[2] She is a member of the First Baptist Church in Upper Marlboro, Maryland and affiliated with Delta Sigma Theta.[2] Additionally, she serves on the board of directors of the Foundation Schools and is part of the character committee of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Prince George's County, Maryland - Government, Executive Branch". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Staff Directory". Prince George's County, Maryland. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
- ^ a b c d e Ford, William J. (2024-12-05). "Acting Prince George's County executive vows 'to keep the trains running'". Maryland Matters. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ a b c "New CAO Named To Prince George's County Executive Team". Prince George's Suite. 2020-12-06. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
- ^ a b DePuyt, Bruce (2018-11-30). "Alsobrooks Fills More Positions on Her Leadership Team". Maryland Matters. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
- ^ Sanderson, Michael (2020-12-03). "Tara Jackson Named New Prince George's CAO". Conduit Street. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
- ^ a b Spencer, Darcy (2024-12-04). "What the acting Prince George's Co. exec says about FBI HQ, Commanders and more". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ a b c d e Donovan, Lionel (2024-12-04). "Prince George's County hears from new acting County Executive". wusa9.com. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ Spencer, Darcy; Cook, Gina (2024-12-02). "Angela Alsobrooks resigns as Prince George's County executive after Senate win". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved 2024-12-03.