Executive Race Tops Full Ballot

By Rosalind S. Helderman and Ovetta Wiggins
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, August 31, 2006

Prince George's residents going to the polls for the Democratic primary on Sept. 12 had better arrive ready for some big-time voting.

With more than 100 candidates running in 21 local races, plus a bevy of state and federal races, this election season has brought an unprecedented flurry of political activism.

The top race for local officials is the campaign for county executive.

Incumbent Jack B. Johnson (D) faces an energetic challenge for the Democratic nomination from former state delegate Rushern L. Baker III. There is no Republican candidate, so if Johnson fends off Baker for the Democratic nomination, he will be elected to his second and, because of term limits, final term.

Johnson has argued that the county has made great strides under his tenure and residents should reelect him for more of the same. He points to an economic boom and rising property values, which have produced unprecedented tax revenue for the county to spend on improving services.

For the first time in a generation, the school system's requested budget was fully funded this year. Schools have been built and the county police force expanded.

"The success of the county is my résumé," Johnson said recently.

Baker has countered that many of Johnson's accomplishments were launched by his predecessor, Wayne K. Curry (D). And he said Johnson has been unwilling to acknowledge problems in the county, particularly a crime rate that has generally risen over the county executive's tenure. In 2005, the county had a record number of homicides.

Baker also has seized on recent revelations that Johnson has awarded more than $3 million in county contracts to friends and supporters. "Stop the corruption. It's time for a change," read a recent Baker mailing.

All nine seats of the County Council will be on the ballot as well, though the legislative body will have significantly less turnover than four years ago, when eight members joined the board. Three members are running unopposed. They are Camille Exum (D-Seat Pleasant), Thomas E. Dernoga (D-Laurel) and Tony Knotts (D-Temple Hills).

In District 5, David Harrington (D-Cheverly) faces no Democratic opponent but will match up against Francis Marshall in the Nov. 7 general election. And William A. Campos (D-Hyattsville) in District 2 faces Anthony Cicoria, a former delegate and council member who went to jail in 1990 for misusing campaign funds.

Popular Mitchelville council member Samuel H. Dean (D) is facing off with community activist Phil Lee, whose challenge is based on his years advocating for improved education and reduced crime. Marilynn Bland (D-Clinton), a former school board member, is facing five opponents in the 9th District.

There are also two open seats on the County Council. In District 4, two men and a woman are running to replace Douglas J.J. Peters (D-Bowie), who is running for a state Senate seat. They are Bowie Mayor G. Frederick Robinson, Darrell Carrington, a former county social services official, and Ingrid M. Turner, a retired Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps commander.

A crowded field of eight candidates is running to replace Thomas R. Hendershot, including several with ties to the county executive. Hendershot is barred by term limits from running again but has been a strong ally to Johnson on the council, and his wife, Florence Hendershot, is running to replace him. Also running are Derrick L. Coley, who works for Johnson's chief of staff, and Ken Laureys, who works for Johnson's office of community relations. Other candidates are a former School Board member, the mayor of Landover Hills, the director of Community Ministries, and city council members from College Park and New Carrollton.

Three retirements and a bid for lieutenant governor have resulted in four hotly contested races for the General Assembly.

In the 21st District, two incumbents, Del. Brian R. Moe and Del. Barbara A. Frush, are looking to retain their seats while six Democratic challengers are hoping to replace Del. Pauline H. Menes. A Republican is running unopposed for the GOP nomination for the seat. Menes is retiring after 40 years in the General Assembly. Ben Barnes, a lawyer who is on the slate with Moe and Frush, is considered a favorite in the race. But Joseline Pena-Melnyk, a lawyer and College Park council member, is running a vigorous campaign. She recently received an endorsement from former county executive Curry.

In the 23rd District, County Council member Peters (D-Bowie) and Bobby Henry are vying for a seat being vacated by longtime Sen. Leo E. Green. Peters has served on the council for four years. Henry is a lawyer and an associate minister at Jericho City of Praise. Peters has never run outside of his council district; Henry received 45 percent of the vote in an unsuccessful bid against Green four years ago. Newcomer Gregory G. Holmes is also making a run for the seat.

In the 25th District, five Democratic candidates are trying to capture the seat being vacated by Del. Anthony Brown, who is Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley's running mate in the governor's race. Dels. Melony G. Griffith and Dereck E. Davis (both D-Prince George's) are also seeking a return to office. Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Prince George's) is unopposed.

And in the 26th District, Del. Obie Patterson (D-Prince George's) is seeking to replace Sen. Gloria G. Lawlah (D-Prince George's), who is retiring after 16 years in the General Assembly. C. Anthony Muse, a former delegate who ran for county executive in 2002, is challenging Patterson for the open seat.

In other spirited races, Sen. John A. Giannetti Jr. (D-Prince George's) is facing a tough challenge from Jim Rosapepe, a former delegate who served as U.S. ambassador to Romania in the Clinton administration. One other Democrat has filed in the race in the 21st District.

In the 26th District, 10 candidates are vying for three seats. Del. Patterson, who is running for Senate, gave up one of the seats.

In the 22nd District, four candidates, including three incumbents, are running for three seats in the House of Delegates. Sen. Paul G. Pinsky (D-Prince George's) is unopposed.

The 23rd and 24th districts have a similar situation, with four candidates vying for three seats. Three of the candidates are incumbents. Sen. Nathaniel Exum (D-Prince George's) is running unopposed.

In the 27th District, Sen. Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. is running unopposed. But voters will have seven Democratic candidates to choose from and four Republican candidates to select from in the House of Delegates race.

Four candidates are vying for three delegate seats in the 47th District. Three are incumbents. The fourth is a newcomer, Jolene Ivey. Sen. Gwendolyn T. Britt (D-Prince George's) is facing a challenge from George Seymore for the Democratic nomination.

Residents will also be asked to pick among a field of 46 candidates for nine Board of Education seats. This is the first time residents have had a chance to vote for the board since 2000, because state lawmakers dismissed the last elected board and replaced it with a caretaker appointed body in 2002.

From the field of 46, voters on Sept. 12 will nominate 18 candidates for the nonpartisan school board -- 10 from districts and eight at large. The nominees will compete countywide Nov. 7 for nine seats.

Two of the candidates, Vice Chairman Howard W. Stone Jr. (Mitchellville) and Judy Mickens-Murray (Upper Marlboro), are members of that appointed board now asking the public to elect them to serve. The other candidates include a former school board chairman, a county corrections officer, a former student member of the state Board of Education, a public health nurse and numerous parent and community activists.

Perhaps the best-known candidate, Lawlah, withdrew from the race in early August, though her name will remain on the ballot.

For the county's two top law enforcement jobs, incumbents are running unopposed: State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey and Sheriff Michael Jackson.

Sheriff's office employee Cereta Lee is challenging incumbent Lynn Skerpon for register of wills. Three candidates are running to replace Rosalyn E. Pugh as clerk of the circuit court.

Five men and women are also running for the three positions as judge of the Orphans' Court, which deals with contested estates.