Democrat Harrison Wins Council Seat

Turnout Low in Election to Fill Vacancy Caused by Harrington's Move to Senate

Prince George's County voters elected Springdale resident Andrea Harrison to the County Council yesterday in a low-turnout special election to fill a vacant seat.

Harrison, a Democrat, overwhelmingly defeated Republican Steven W. Johnson, a consultant from Cheverly, for the District 5 seat, which represents a swath of central Prince George's stretching from the border with Northeast Washington through Glenarden.

With all but absentee and provisional ballots counted, Harrison captured more than 86 percent of the vote.

She will be sworn in to the nine-member body May 19.

The seat became vacant when David C. Harrington (D) was selected to fill a state Senate seat previously held by Gwendolyn T. Britt (D), who died in January.

Harrison, a lifelong county resident, served as a staffer in Harrington's office.

She was endorsed by Harrington and state Sen. Nathaniel Exum (D) and campaigned on a promise to continue Harrington's community outreach efforts.

Harrison's father also once held the seat.

Less than 5 percent of the district's approximately 40,000 voters voted in the special election.

The turnout was slightly better for the April 1 special primary election for the seat, in which Harrison defeated six candidates to win the Democratic nomination.