Democrats Give Johnson Four More Years
County Executive Defeats Strong Challenge by Baker

By Ovetta Wiggins
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 21, 2006

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.

Sen. Gwendolyn Britt (D) had little trouble fending off a challenge from education activist George Seymore. Britt, seeking a second term, captured 83 percent of the vote and is unopposed in the fall.

Longtime Sens. Ulysses Currie, Nathaniel Exum, Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. and Paul G. Pinsky had no opposition in the Democratic primary. Miller, the president of the state Senate, faces a GOP challenger in November.

Del. James Hubbard and newcomer Gerron Levi won the race to represent District 23A, while Del. Marvin Holmes, who was unopposed, won in District 23B.

Dels. James E. Proctor Jr. and Joseph F. Vallario Jr. will return to the General Assembly in January, but their colleague, Brian Moe, will not. Moe, who represented District 21, came in fourth in the race for three nominations. He was defeated by Ben Barnes, Joseline Pena-Melnyk and Del. Barbara A. Frush. A Republican, Neil Balwart Sood, is running for one of the seats in November.

Aisha N. Braveboy, a member of Johnson's administration, won the seat vacated by Del. Anthony G. Brown in District 25. Brown is running for lieutenant governor. Braveboy will join Dels. Melony G. Griffith and Dereck Davis, who both won.

Jolene Ivey defeated Del. Rosetta C. Parker in a spirited race in District 47. Del. Victor R. Ramirez was the top vote-getter in the district, followed by Ivey and Del. Doyle L. Niemann.

There will be two new faces representing District 26. Del. Darryl A. Kelly lost his seat, and Obie Patterson had to relinquish his when he decided to run for the state Senate. Del. Veronica L. Turner was renominated. Kris Valderrama and Jay Walker also were selected by the Democrats for the House of Delegates. A Republican, John Rowe, is running for one of the three seats in November.

All the incumbents in District 22 and 24 won.

Voters also narrowed the list of 48 candidates for school board.

Education activist Donna Hathaway Beck leads the pack. Lawlah, who initially filed to run for the school board but dropped out of the race, came in third in a crowded field of 17 at-large candidates.