County Councilman Tom Dernoga

ABOUT TOM

BIOGRAPHY

Thomas E. Dernoga took office representing Council District One on the Prince George's County Council on January 29, 2002 after a Special Election to replace Walter H. "Mike" Maloney. Tom was re-elected on November 5, 2002. He served as Vice-Chairman of the County Council in 2005 and was selected by his colleagues as Chairman of the County Council for 2006.

Tom is a life-long resident of Central Maryland and has resided in Prince George's County since 1980. Tom and Lenora, his wife, bought a home in West Laurel in 1985, and have lived in West Laurel for over 20 years. Tom holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland College Park (1981). He also received a Juris Doctorate (with honors) from the University of Maryland School of Law (1984);and he earned his Master of Laws in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center (1988). Tom is a member of Prince George's County Bar Association, and has been a member of the Maryland State Bar since 1985. Tom maintained a general law practice emphasizing land use, environmental, administrative, and tax matters but now concentrates on County Council business.

Counsel for the People

Inauspicious Beginnings

In 1987, Tom (a tax lawyer in Baltimore) began his career as a civic activist by attending a West Laurel Civic Association strategy meeting concerned opposing an large unwanted commercial development on the community’s doorstep. Tom left the meeting as the WLCA’s new zoning lawyer (pro bono) – except for one problem: he knew nothing about zoning law or land use. Over the next two months, Tom taught himself zoning law and land use planning, and helped lead 800 neighbors in successfully opposing the development. In this unexpected diversion from tax law, Tom found himself appearing before the Zoning Hearing Examiner, the Planning Board, the County Council and even Circuit Court. Because of his leadership, the West Laurel Civic Association Board asked Tom to become President in 1989 at the young age of 29. Somewhat humbled at the faith in his ability, Tom started what became a 15-year run as one of the leaders of the West Laurel Civic Association and became heavily involved in land use planning in Prince George’s County and Central Maryland.

Tom decided to put his new zoning law background to use for the public by offering his services for free or very low cost to civic groups around Prince George’s County. Tom helped fight against a major sand & gravel operation in Clinton, and helped citizens fight the major expansion of the Hyde Field Airport into a large industrial airpark. When civic associations in Fort Washington were sued by a developer, Tom stepped in to defend the citizens’ rights. When development threatened the Broad Creek Historic District, Tom helped the residents defend the County’s only historic district from incompatible development.

Because few lawyers will regularly take zoning cases against powerful developers and challenge politicians, within a few short years, Tom was helping citizens all over Central Maryland.

Bring on the Redskins!!

In December 1993, the Washington Redskins announced that they would make their new home in Laurel at the racetrack on the Anne Arundel County side of the Patuxent River. Immediately, hundreds of citizens mobilized to oppose this threat to Laurel. They formed "Citizens Against the Stadium – Part 2" (CATS2), named after the group that defeated the Redskins in Alexandria. Led by Jeanne Mignon, Mary Lehman and Mike Maloney (future County Councilman), CATS2 started preparing for the impossible task of stopping the Redskins --- State-wide politicians and powerful business interests wanted to see the Redskins in Laurel, and local politicians were afraid to voice opposition. CATS2 turned to Tom to serve as chief legal counsel. Along with Mike Maloney, Tom and CATS2 put together an incredible volunteer team of experts and media relations. The zoning hearing alone lasted through the summer of 1994 – fittingly held on a stage at Fort Meade High School, where the drama played out like a "reality" TV show. Undaunted, Tom and a group of citizen volunteers took on the best team of zoning lawyers, experts and lobbyists that money could buy. In September, Mike Maloney won the Democratic nomination for County Council. In October, CATS2 and Tom won a stunning upset victory over the Redskins. The Redskins limped out of town.

"The Lawyer Who’s Wanted When Development is Not"

So said the Washington Post in a December 7, 1997 front page Metro article. With his increasing notoriety, Tom became in demand across the State and even in Washington, DC. In 1998 and 1999,Tom got pulled into two of Frederick’s largest zoning cases. The fast-growing suburb was experiencing the same type of growing pains as the metropolitan Counties and citizens had trouble finding lawyers who would stand up to developers and politicians. Tom jumped into the fray in the Whittier planned community to force one of Frederick’s most powerful developers to live up to his commitments. This success led residents on the other side Frederick to call Tom to help oppose incompatible heavy industrial development adjacent to their new community. Again, Tom was able to bring success to the citizens and get the developers to change their plans and bring quality high-tech development.

Council Activities

In 2006 Tom served as Chairman of the County Council. He is a member of the Transportation, Housing and Environment Committee (THE) and the Planning, Zoning and Economic Development (PZED) Committee. In 2004, he served as Chairman of PZED.

Tom also serves as the County Council’s representative on the Council of Government’s (COG) Metropolitan Development Policy Committee. Learn more about the Metropolitan Development Policy Committee at www.mwcog.org. Tom also serves as the County Council’s representative on the Council of Government’s (COG) Chesapeake Bay Policy Committee. The Chesapeake Bay Policy Committee tracks developments under the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program for implications to local governments and recommends Bay-related policies to the Board. Learn more about CBPC at www.mwcog.org/environment/water/chesapeake/.

In addition, Tom is the Council representative to the Prince George's County Transportation Oversight Committee, Circuit Court Strategic Planning Committee and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

Now elected to his second term, Tom continues to play a senior role in Prince George's County government.

Civic Activities

West Laurel Civic Association; President, (1989-91; 1995-97) and Vice-President, (1997-2001)
Bond Mill Elementary School PTA; Member (1993- Present); Secretary
(1994-96)
Laurel Boys and Girls Club; Member & Soccer Coach and Team Manager
Prince George's County Commission 2000 Growth Task Force; Member (1998-2000)
Board of Education Committee of 100 Community Advisory Committee; Member, (1997-2003)
Laurel Regional Planning and Transportation Committee; Member,
(1992-1996)
Partnership for Regional Excellence, Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments; Member, (1992-93)
Prince George's County Alternative Low Density Task Force Committee; Chairman, (1991) County Council Activities