Jenne Takes Another Shot at Council Campaign

Editor's Note - An earlier version of this story erred when stating Jenne's local political history. He has run for city council twice in the past, both times in 2011, when Ward 1 residents got to go to the polls twice in one year, as explained in the article below. The story has been corrected. 

William Jenne, a Hyattsville resident since 2005, is making his third attempt at a run to represent Ward 1 on the city council. 

Jenne said that if elected he would focus on drawing redevelopment activity into the northern section of Hyattsville's Route 1 corridor.

"I would like to facilitate, in any way I can, the redevelopment of the strip," said Jenne in an interview earlier this week. "An issue that goes along with that is parking, because you can't have strong retail growth without any way to get there. There is a talk of a parking garage, which I think is great, but further up the strip, where I am at, there is a lot that can be done yet."

Jenne, touching on a popular campaign theme among candidates, said that he was also interested in finding ways that the city of Hyattsville could help fund programs at the city's public schools. 

Jenne, age 40, and his wife have two young girls, 4-year-old Frances and 15-month-old Jane.

"I want to make sure that the neighborhood around it is conducive to walking to and from home," said Jenne. "I want to do the things that any parent would want for any school to have."

Jenne also said that he hoped to contribute to a more collegial atmosphere among council members. 

"I would just like to see better communication in the council as a whole," said Jenne.

Jenne also sounded a note of skepticism about the city's speed camera program. 

"I am concerned about the " said Jenne. "I want to make sure they are used thoughtfully and not just as a revenue booster."

Born in Bethesda, Jenne graduated from Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring in 1990. From there, he went to Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA, where he earned a bachelor of arts in history in 1995. 

Jenne has had a varied professional career. Right out of college, he worked for a congressman for a year. From 1997 to 2004, he worked for a real estate database company called Costar Group. Then, Jenne lived for a year in New Zealand while his wife, Shera Jenne, pursued a job opportunity. When they came back stateside in 2005, the family set down roots in Hyattsville at 4411 Oliver Street, less than a block from Route 1 and just around the corner from Shagga Coffee.

He now works as a freelance photographer and is in the process of becoming an independent financial advisor after working in the field with Morgan Stanley. 

"My diverse work experience is a benefit. I am good at communicating and working with all sorts of people in all sorts of capacities," said Jenne. 

Jenne will be running against fellow Ward 1 resident Bart Lawrence. Councilor Eric Wingard (Ward 1) has filed to run as well, but has since announced that he would be suspending his campaign. His name is no longer listed as a Ward 1 candidate on the city's election website. 

In 2011, Jenne twice unsuccessfully ran for Ward 1's council seat. The first time, Jenne faced off against incumbent Doug Dudrow, Scott Matirne, and election winner Candace Hollingsworth. But because Marc Tartaro was elected to mayor from his Ward 1 seat, Jenne also ran in the ensuing special election to fill the vacancy. Jenne came in third in a three way race, netting only nine votes to election winner Wingard's 65 votes and runner up Scott Matirne's 54 votes.

This year's biennial Hyattsville city council elections are scheduled for May 7. More than half the city council seats are in play this election cycle. this year. The mayor's seat is not up for election until 2015.