The dust is settling in Prince George’s County after Maryland’s primary election last week, and though Angela Alsobrooks easily defeated the field in her bid for county executive, two county council races are still too close to call.
The races for council seats in Districts 7 and 9 could take up to two weeks to determine after the June 26 primary because the count for absentee and provisional ballots didn’t start until June 28 and July 5, respectively, said Alisha Alexander, administrator of the county’s Board of Elections.
According to unofficial results in District 7, Krystal Oriadha and Rodney Colvin Streeter are nine votes apart.
Oriadha garnered 856 votes during early voting and 1,845 on primary election day for a total of 2,701. In comparison, Streeter picked up 871 votes from early voting and 1,839 on election day for a total of 2,710.
Streeter works as chief of staff for Councilwoman Andrea Harrison (D-District 5), who won one of three seats for delegate in District 24.
Oriadha, a co-chair of Progressive Maryland’s Prince George’s chapter, thanked volunteers and supporters in a June 27 Instagram post.
“As of now, our race is too close to call.” she said. “Regardless of the outcome, I am an activist first and will continue to serve my community.”
The winner would replace the term-limited Councilwoman Karen Toles, who ran unsuccessfully for one of the two new at-large council seats that voters approved in 2016.
In District 9, Sydney Harrison and Tamara Davis Brown are separated by only 47 votes. Harrison, a clerk of the county’s Circuit Court, received 6,913 votes. Brown, a telecommunications attorney, garnered 6,866 votes.
The winner replaces Councilman Mel Franklin, who was the top vote-getter among nine candidates seeking the two Democratic nominations for the new at-large seats.
Franklin received 41,611, or 21 percent, of the votes counted. Calvin Hawkins, a longtime adviser to County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, took second place with nearly 37,600, or 19 percent, of the votes.
“Thank you to all my volunteers, supporters, friends and family for your unwavering confidence and love during these long campaign months,” Hawkins tweeted Thursday.
Republican Felicia Falarin will be on the ballot for an at-large seat in the general election.
Two other council races finished with the top vote-getter ahead by fewer than 500 votes.
Former Councilman Tom Dernoga, who represented District 1 from 2002 to 2010, secured the seat again, beating Laurel Mayor Craig Moe by just 460 votes. Dernoga will replace Councilwoman Mary Lehman of Laurel, who’s term-limited but won one of three open seats as a delegate to represent District 21.
Councilwoman Deni Taveras (D-District 2) of Adelphi will apparently retain her seat for another four-year term after she received 381 more votes than Hyattsville Mayor Candace Hollingsworth.
Alsobrooks, who seeks to become the first woman to lead the county, received about 77,220, or 62 percent, of the unofficial vote tally.
The lime green T-shirts with black “Angela Alsobrooks” letters were prevalent throughout the county on Election Day as the state’s attorney easily outpaced former Rep. Donna Edwards and state Sen. C. Anthony Muse, who finished second and third, respectively.
“I want to thank my fellow residents of #PrinceGeorgesCounty for honoring me with your vote!” Alsobrooks tweeted June 27. “I am immensely grateful to the family, friends and supporters who so generously contributed their time and effort to our campaign. I look forward to serving as your county executive.”
Alsobrooks, 47, couldn’t be reached for comment Friday, June 29. She will face Republican Jerry Mathis in the November general election. With the county heavily Democratic, she’s more than likely to succeed.
Oriadha got PGCEA support from a person who sat on the endorsement committee and did not let others know that she is a co-chair for Progressive Maryland within the teachers union. That person also prevent RA’s, or building representatives from voting on any endorsements along with MSEA interferring with that process by dictating who could and could not be elected. You want to be a reporter then do the job as one and not as a mouth peice. Beware though that the rabbit hole is deep and costs Maryland taxpayers much and gives public education very little money or interest unless they can get elected.