New Council Leaders
Prince George’s County Council Elects New Leadership for 2026 Legislative Year
UPPER MARLBORO, MD — December 2, 2025 — The Prince George’s County Council today elected District 7 Council Member Krystal Oriadha as Council Chair and District 3 Council Member Eric Olson as Vice Chair for the 2026 Legislative Year, ushering in a leadership team focused on innovation, equity, and forward-looking governance. The announcement marks a significant moment for the Council as it prepares to advance an ambitious agenda under the theme “Prototype for What is Possible.”
Chair Oriadha, who made history as one of the youngest women and the only first-generation African immigrant to serve in this role, emphasized that the Council’s new theme reflects both vision and responsibility. “This is more than a slogan, it’s a declaration,” Oriadha said, noting that a prototype represents boldness, intention, and the first act of designing something greater. She stressed that residents are not looking for what is easy, but for what is possible—and that the Council intends to meet that expectation with collaboration, creativity, and a relentless focus on the future.
Chair Krystal Oriadha: A Record of Innovation and Advocacy
Elected to the Council in December 2022, Chair Oriadha has centered her legislative work on supporting marginalized communities, improving Black maternal health outcomes, and expanding access to housing and healthcare. Her policy portfolio reflects a career steeped in service across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Before joining the Council, Oriadha co-founded PG ChangeMakers, a grassroots organization addressing core community challenges, including food insecurity, housing instability, healthcare access, LGBTQ+ rights, police reform, and systemic racism. Her professional background includes serving as the youngest Junior Project Manager at Hewlett Packard’s Global Enterprise Management Team and working as a federal Senior Communications Consultant, where she developed national public awareness campaigns on critical issues such as human trafficking, domestic violence, and adolescent pregnancy prevention.
Her contributions have been recognized nationally: she received the 2019 Innovation Fund 40 Under 40 Award for Public Service, the 2018 Howard University Alumni MoveMakers Award, and served on the Clinton Foundation’s 20|30 Leadership Council.
Vice Chair Eric Olson: Smart Growth Leader and Community Builder
Returning to Council leadership, Vice Chair Eric Olson brings more than 20 years of experience in smart growth, climate action, and community development. First elected to the County Council in 2006 and again in 2022, Olson has been a driving force behind over $450 million in redevelopment projects, significant expansions of bike trails and playgrounds, strengthened stormwater protections, and the promotion of renewable energy initiatives. His leadership has also helped propel major regional transit efforts, including the Purple Line.
Olson’s public service spans local and national spheres. He previously served on the College Park City Council, directed the College Park City-University Partnership, led the Sierra Club’s National Healthy Communities Campaign, served as Deputy Director of FairVote, and worked on Capitol Hill for then-Congressman Bernie Sanders. His long-standing commitment to neighborhood quality-of-life issues has made him a respected voice in community-centered policy development.
A Vision for 2026
Together, Oriadha and Olson signal a Council leadership team prepared to champion bold ideas, elevate community priorities, and drive solutions that reflect the evolving needs of Prince George’s County. As the Council enters the 2026 Legislative Year, residents can expect a continued focus on innovation, equity, and collaborative action—true to its new declaration: a prototype for what is possible.
