Scrambling for Shapiro's Council Seat

A half-dozen names have been floated in the past week as possible replacements for County Council member Peter A. Shapiro (D-Brentwood), who announced plans to step down on July 16.

Shapiro is returning to work at his alma mater, the University of Maryland.

The council is scheduled to decide this month when to hold a special election to fill the District 2 seat.

KarrenPope-Onwokwe, a lawyer and treasurer of the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee, has been the most frequently mentioned name by those in county political circles. Pope-Onwokwe was making calls looking for support from members of the state Senate delegation barely 24 hours after Shapiro's announcement.

Also mentioned as possible contenders in what is expected to be a crowded primary are: Amber Waller, a member of the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee; William F. Gardiner, the mayor of Hyattsville; William Campos, the Prince George's County Latino affairs liaison; and Malinda Miles, a member of the City Council in Mount Rainier and a former member of the county Democratic Central Committee.

Most names had been floated as potential candidates to run for the District 2 seat in 2006. But Shapiro's departure has aspiring council members scrambling to gather support among county power brokers, including U.S. Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D-Md).

Del. Doyle Niemann (D-Mount Rainier) also popped up on the list as a possible challenger. Niemann, who is a prosecutor in the state's attorney's office, ran for the council seat in 1990.

"I've had people approach me," Niemann said. "But I'm probably not inclined to do it. I'm inclined to stay in the House of Delegates."

Niemann said Shapiro's departure is a significant loss for his district. "He has shaped the path for development in the district," said Niemann, noting Shapiro's influence in pushing for the transformation of the Route 1 corridor and University Boulevard and constructing schools in the district, which includes Hyattsville, Mount Rainier, Brentwood and North Brentwood.

Quick Change

Council member Marilynn Bland (D-Clinton) has had two legislative aides over the last 18 months. And now she's working on her third.

Carl Gordon, who was hired last year to replace Wesley E. Gourdine Jr., has resigned.

Barbara L. Holtz, the council administrator, said Gordon told her last week that he was resigning. She said that he is no longer on the county payroll and that she did not know the reason for his departure.

Gordon, a law school graduate, previously worked as an aide in the legislative office of former council member Isaac J. Gourdine. Bland also worked for Isaac Gourdine as his legislative aide. Wesley Gourdine is Isaac Gourdine's brother.

While the duties of a legislative aide can vary from one council member to the next, the job, generally speaking, is part office manager and part supervisor. Gordon considered himself Bland's chief of staff. A legislative aide is the highest-ranking staff member in a council member's office.