Race Is on for Shapiro's Council Seat

The race to fill the seat vacated by former County Council member Peter A. Shapiro (D-Brentwood) officially got underway this week when Hyattsville attorney Karren Pope-Onwukwe announced her candidacy.

Pope-Onwukwe began making calls seeking support for a run barely 24 hours after Shapiro announced that he was resigning in the middle of his four-year term to take a job at the University of Maryland. But it wasn't until Monday that she made her formal bid.

"One of the things I bring is a voice for parents, seniors and the regular working," Pope-Onwukwe said Monday. "I think that it's important that whoever represents you shares your values."

Pope-Onwukwe said her supporters include Shapiro, Sen. Paul Pinsky (D-Prince George's), Sen. Gloria Lawlah (D-Prince George's), Del. Anne Healey (D-Prince George's), Del. Tawanna Gaines (D-Prince George's), North Brentwood Mayor Lillian K. Beverly and Hyattsville City Council member Paula Perry.

Pope-Onwukwe began her work in the community in the mid-1980s as an officer with the Hyattsville Parent Teacher Association. "We were trying to get our children returned to the neighborhood schools," said Pope-Onwukwe, who testified at legislative hearings on behalf of parents.

She ran for the Prince George's Democratic Central Committee in 2000 and currently serves as its treasurer. Next week, she will represent the Maryland Democratic Party at the Democratic National Convention.

The council, which must set a date for the special election, is slated to discuss the election Wednesday. Although Pope-Onwukwe is the first to officially announce, several candidates are expected to be formally vying for the seat in coming weeks. Names being mentioned include: Amber Waller, a member of the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee; 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.

A Sweet Send-off

As for Shapiro, county employees, council members and friends bid him farewell with an elaborate spread of cream puffs, chocolate-frosted cakes and other desserts during a part-roast, part-toast reception last Wednesday in the County Council's conference room.

"We didn't know there were that many folks happy to see Peter leave," joked council Vice Chairman Samuel H. Dean (D-Mitchellville). Dean presented Shapiro with a plaque, thanking him on behalf of his colleagues for the knowledge and expertise he passed along over the last 18 months.

Karen Campbell, spokeswoman for the council, who often quoted Shapiro during his two years as chairman of the council, presented Shapiro with a printout of a word that she declared would retire along with him.

"You know how people retire a number when a player retires? We're retiring a word," Campbell said.

The crowd laughed as Campbell unfurled the banner showing the word "profoundly."

In case Shapiro didn't believe his overuse of the word, Campbell gave him a videotape of his last council session where, she said, he used the word five times in two minutes.

Three members of the council staff, including Redis Floyd, the county council clerk, sang a parting song to the tune of "Tomorrow" from "Annie."