Candidates in crowded race for at-large Prince George’s Council seat face off Tuesday night
The Prince George's County Administration Building in Upper Marlboro. Prince George's County photo.
With just two weeks until the primary, six Democrats vying for an at-large Prince George’s County Council seat will face off Tuesday night in a party-sponsored candidate forum – and that’s just some of the candidates.
The forum is scheduled from 6-7:30 p.m. in the New Carrollton Library.
Nine Democrats and four Republicans filed for the special election to replace at-large Council Member Jamel “Mel” Franklin, a 14-year veteran of the council who resigned abruptly last month. A week later, he was charged with multiple counts in what authorities said was a theft scheme that involved more than $133,000 from his campaign account.
A primary will be held Aug. 6, and the winners there will face off the Nov. 5 general election. The winner of the general election will serve the remaining two years of Franklin’s term.
The vacancy quickly drew a crowded field of hopefuls, including four Republicans rolling the dice in the heavily Democratic county: Kamita Gray, Michael Riker, Isaac Toyos and Jonathan White.
Nine Democrats filed for the seat, and eight remain after Keisha Lewis withdrew. Six of the remaining candidates are expected to show up for Tuesday’s candidate forum: former Del. Angela M. Angel, Leo Bachi Eyombo, Tamara Davis Brown, Council Chair Jolene Ivey, Judy Mickens-Murray and Gabriel Njinimbot.
Two other Democratic candidates, Bowie Mayor Tim Adams and state Del. Marvin E. Holmes Jr. will not be able to attend but were invited to send written statements for the forum that is being sponsored by the Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee and the Prince George’s County Young Democrats.
The election for the at-large council seat could be the first of several county elected seats that could be shuffled this fall, depending on the County Executive Angela Alsobrooks’ success in her bid for a U.S. Senate seat and on the outcome of the at-large race, which could open other seats at the local or state level.
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