🏗️ The Developer’s Gatekeeper: Darryl Barnes Lands Prince George’s Power Post

By Barry O’Connell

In a move that stunned even seasoned insiders, former Delegate Darryl Barnes has been appointed Chairman of the Prince George’s County Planning Board, a position that controls the levers of land use, zoning, and development across one of Maryland’s most politically entangled counties.

Barnes, who resigned from the Maryland House of Delegates in 2023 to join a lobbying firm, now finds himself at the helm of a five-member board that decides what gets built, where, and by whom. His term runs through 2029. The appointment came courtesy of County Executive Aisha Braveboy, whose own ties to developers have long raised eyebrows.

📜 A Political Career Marked by Controversy

Barnes served in the General Assembly from 2015 to 2023, rising to Chair the Legislative Black Caucus. But his tenure ended under a cloud. In 2019, Delegate Regina Boyce resigned from the caucus, accusing Barnes of saying, “We are going to let a white lesbian be the speaker of the House?” a reference to Delegate Maggie McIntosh. Barnes denied the remark but never fully escaped the fallout. With the current Council Chair identifying as LGBTQ+, the optics of Barnes’s appointment are... complicated.

🎓 The “Doctor” Debate

Barnes has referred to himself as “Dr. Darryl Barnes,” citing an honorary doctorate from CICA International University & Seminary—a for-profit, unaccredited institution with ties to a chaplaincy network in Houston. He did not attend classes, submit a dissertation, or earn a traditional degree. The title has been widely criticized as misleading, especially given his role in shaping public policy.

🏘️ Power Without Residency?

Barnes reportedly resides in Anne Arundel County, not Prince George’s, raising questions about his eligibility and allegiance. While technically legal, the appointment of a non-resident to such a powerful local post has fueled speculation that Barnes was installed to serve political interests, not community ones.

💰 The Paycheck and the Perks

While the exact salary hasn’t been disclosed in recent releases, previous Planning Board Chairs have earned in the ballpark of $150,000–$180,000 annually, with access to discretionary budgets, staff, and influence over billions in development. That’s a hefty reward for someone whose credentials and ethics are under scrutiny.

🧱 Developers, Expediency, and Allegiances

Sources in the development community say Barnes is expected to “streamline” approvals for favored developers. those with ties to Jack Johnson / Braveboy’s political network. The Planning Board’s decisions can make or break projects, and Barnes now sits at the nexus of land, money, and influence. Whether he’ll act as a steward of public interest or a facilitator of private gain remains to be seen.

Final Thought:

Prince George’s County didn’t just appoint a Planning Board Chair. It handed the keys to its development future to a man whose résumé is padded, whose past is checkered, and whose loyalties may lie far from the communities he now governs.