Democrats Give Johnson Four More Years

County Executive Defeats Strong Challenge by Baker

Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson fended off a difficult challenge from former state delegate Rushern L. Baker III by capturing 52 percent of the vote to Baker's 48 percent in last week's Democratic primary election, one of the slimmest margins for a county executive seeking office again.

Johnson's win was not clear until nearly 18 hours after the polls closed because of problems technicians had electronically transmitting results to the county's central election office.

Several candidates and campaign workers filled the Board of Elections office last Wednesday as data trickled in. Campaign workers for Johnson monitored the returns.

With all the precincts reported from the Sept. 12 Democratic primary, Johnson ended up defeating Baker by a little less than 5,000 votes. His victory is tantamount to reelection because the Republican Party has not fielded a candidate for November.

Meanwhile, three County Council members -- Samuel H. Dean, Will Campos and Marilynn Bland -- who faced challengers last week were renominated by the Democrats, also tantamount to reelection because they face no Republican opponents in the Nov. 7 general election. Only council member David Harrington faces a Republican challenger (Francis J. Marshall) in November.

There is one open council seat. Ingrid Turner defeated two other Democrats to win the seat that was vacated by Douglas J.J. Peters. She has no opposition in November.

One contest was still undecided a week after the polls closed.

Donna Edwards, a newcomer to Maryland politics who challenged U.S. Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D), was waiting for provisional ballots in Montgomery and Prince George's counties to be counted. Wynn held a lead of 50 to 46 percent; fewer than 3,000 votes separated the two.

Edwards said last week that she plans to file a legal complaint over voting irregularities in Prince George's. She is specifically concerned about 81 voting cards that were unaccounted for until the day after the primary.

Meanwhile, a challenger for one of the two open seats in the state Senate filed a formal petition with the Board of Elections requesting a recount. Bobby Henry, a lawyer and minister, lost to County Council member Peters by a little more than 500 votes in the race to fill a seat vacated by longtime Sen. Leo E. Green (D).

In southern Prince George's, C. Anthony Muse, a minister and former state delegate, defeated Del. Obie Patterson to succeed retiring Sen. Gloria L. Lawlah.

In the northern end of the county, Sen. John A. Giannetti Jr. was ousted after serving one term. Jim Rosapepe, a former delegate, trounced Giannetti, capturing 59 percent of the vote in one of the most spirited Senate races in the county. Rosapepe will face Republican John Stafford in November.