Local Executive Envisions A New D.C. – Named Douglass County, MD

Joelle Lang-Fredman
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON — (WMAL) David Krucoff, a local commercial real estate executive, wants to turn the District of Columbia into the 24th county in Maryland. And he thinks it could happen in his lifetime.

Krucoff said that he doesn’t think that D.C. residents should be satisfied with their current lack of proper representation in government.

“I don’t agree with the concept that permanent second-class citizenship is something to be proud of,” Krucoff said.

Krucoff has created a non-profit corporation dedicated to retro-ceding the District back into the state of Maryland. He envisions naming the new jurisdiction Douglass County, after Frederick Douglass. The new name would not only be a tribute to the abolitionist and African-American social reformer, but its new name could also conveniently be shortened to “D.C.”

Under Krucoff’s vision, many things would change for current D.C. residents.

They would gain two senators and a congressman who could vote on the House floor. Krucoff said that he has heard from D.C. residents who are in favor of his idea.

“It’s win-win,” Krucoff said.

This concept is not new. D.C. was once a part of the State of Maryland. In 1791, the District was created by combining land from Montgomery County, Prince George’s County and Alexandria. In 1840, land fell back into Virginia and became Arlington.

“It’s basically a repeat of that process,” Krucoff said.

While Krucoff said that D.C. becoming its own state does not seem promising, the absorption of D.C. into Maryland is much more likely.

“I would love for DC to be a state, a 51st state..I just don’t think that that’s realistic,” said Krucoff. “I believe in compromise and I believe overtime, with people who are not afraid to espouse middle ground solutions like me, that compromise can be obtained and solutions can be found.”