As Prince George’s County Executive from 2010 to 2018, Rushern Baker showed exceptional leadership under extraordinary circumstances in reversing the trajectory of the second largest local government in Maryland. Despite being the wealthiest and most educated majority African American jurisdiction in the world, when Baker was elected in 2010 the county found itself plagued by rising crime, poorly performing schools, a stagnant economy, a large deficit stemming from an ongoing global financial crisis, fiscal strains from a decades-long property tax cap, staggeringly high numbers of residential foreclosures, and a government that plainly had been poorly managed in several areas. Baker made Prince George’s County the leading economic engine of the state, creating more jobs than any other local jurisdiction for the last three years of his administration, reducing crime to record lows, and increasing property values by record amounts. His achievements led Governing Magazine to recognize him in 2013 for his leadership and led his peers to elect him to two terms as the Chair of the County Executives of America.
Baker has served on the boards of the National Association of Counties, the Maryland Association of Counties and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. He has also received countless other awards for his leadership and excellence in government administration and programming.
Since leaving office in December 2018, Baker has successfully launched a national leadership institute for local government chief executives in consultation with the University of Maryland School of Public Policy and the County Executives America. Baker is the president and chief executive officer of the Baker Strategy Group, a consulting firm providing strategic operational solutions to a variety of public, private sector and non-profit clients through the Washington, D.C. region. Baker also serves on several other boards including the University of Maryland Medical System, the Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area chapter board and the Junior Tennis Champions Center.
Baker was elected to the board of directors in 2023.