Nicole Williams has been an active volunteer with the Prince George’s County Young Democrats and the county’s Democratic Party for several years and she recently announced that she will take the next step and run for the Maryland House of Delegates seat from District 22.

Nicole Williams is a real estate attorney who is seeking a seat in the House of Delegates. (Courtesy Photo)

Williams, who works as a real estate attorney, told the AFRO of her plans to represent county residents in Annapolis, Md. “I chose not to run for the board of education because while I genuinely care about kids, I have been involved in partisan politics and the board is not politicized by party,” she said. “I was asked by some political leaders to run for county council because of my background as a real estate attorney and I understand zoning and development issues well. I decided to run for delegate because I care about women, children and housing and I think my skill set is a better fit for that office.”

Williams is a native of the District of Columbia and received her bachelor’s degree in history and communications in 1999 from the University of Pittsburgh and a juris doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2002. She is a past president of the Prince George’s County Young Democrats, which has served as a launching pad for the political careers of U.S. House of Representatives Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Maryland State Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-27). She is the current president of the Eleanor & Franklin Roosevelt Democratic Club based in Greenbelt, Md.

Blacks consist of 53. 4 percent of the 22nd District while Whites make up 22.8 percent, Latinos comprise 16.4 percent and Asians account for five percent of the population. The northern Prince George’s County district includes Greenbelt and Beltsville in the north; Landover in the south; eastern areas such as Lanham and Mitchellville and western parts such as Chillum, Hyattsville and East Riverdale and Riverdale. There are approximately 128,549 people in the district.

The senator for the district is Paul Pinsky. In the Nov. 6, 2018 general election, Williams will be competing for one of three delegate positions.

All the delegates, Alonzo Washington (D), Anne Healey (D), and Tawanna Gaines (D) have either announced they are running or are leaning toward running again.

Williams was an unsuccessful candidate for delegate in 2010. Williams represents District 22 on the Prince George’s Central Democratic Committee, winning election to that position in 2014.

She said classroom sizes are too large in Prince George’s County and wants to address that if elected to the House of Delegates. “Many classrooms in Prince George’s have 32-35 children with one teacher and that is too many,” she said. “It is tough to teach in a class that large. We have some overcrowded schools in my district. I want to make sure that the school construction backlog is reduced and our schools are updated and improved.”

Williams said she will work to help Marylanders pay off their student loans and make college more affordable. She also wants to make housing more affordable across the state. “I want to make sure that there is housing for the average worker,” Williams said. “The D.C. metro area is expensive and it is tough for anyone who is making $50,000-$60,000 a year.”

As a legislator, Williams wants to be a positive force for women by supporting paid sick leave and living wage policies. “Women still make less than men doing the same work,” she said.

Williams plans to knock on doors and listen to the concerns of her neighbors.

Maurice Simpson Jr., a candidate for delegate in District 24, is happy to see Williams run again for the House of Delegates. “I am excited about all of the young people running, particularly Nicole and Alonzo,” Simpson told the AFRO.