Sign up to stay connected
Get the top stories of the day around the DMV.
Maryland state Sen. Paul Pinsky recalled when Nicole A. Williams ran an honest, hardworking campaign against the three state delegate incumbents to represent District 22.
According to last year’s Democratic primary election results, Williams finished fourth, trailing third-place finisher Del. Anne Healey by nearly 2,100 votes.
“She knocked on doors. She ran a campaign with integrity and honor. She did denigrate or bad mouth any of the incumbents. She ran in a positive fashion,” Pinsky said Tuesday alongside fellow District 22 colleagues, Healey and Del. Alonzo Washington. “She left an impression across our district.”
His words resonated with the Prince George’s County Central Committee, which nominated Williams to fill a vacancy for state delegate to represent the district that includes Greenbelt, Hyattsville, New Carrollton and portions of Mitchellville.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan must confirm the nomination.
Williams, an attorney with Rees Broome of Bethesda who resides in Greenbelt, sought the position against Chike Croslin of Hyattsville.
Croslin, an attorney with Sidley Austin in northwest D.C., spoke on his own behalf.
Besides Pinsky, Daryl Pennington of Greenbelt also spoke in support of Williams. Both women served on the board of the Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt Democratic Club in Greenbelt.
At least another two dozen other Williams supporters, who either wore yellow t-shirt or stickers with her name on them, filled a room inside the Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission building in Riverdale.
“Thank you all so much,” Williams said as she hugged state, county and municipal officials and residents after the hearing.
When asked by a committee member what would be some of her priorities in Annapolis, Williams said the ongoing work of the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education, also known as the Kirwan Commission, will take priority.
Another agenda item, Williams said, would be to ensure incarcerated women receive basic necessities such as medical services and hygiene products.
“It’s just to bring some type of equality to our criminal justice system,” said Williams, a former member of the county’s Democratic Central Committee.
If Hogan confirms the nomination, Williams will replace former Del. Tawanna P. Gaines.
Gaines resigned this month after law enforcement agencies charged her with wire fraud for misappropriating campaign contributions. She pleaded guilty in federal court Oct. 17 and could serve between eight and 33 months in prison. She must also pay restitution of $22,565.
She is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 3.
The General Assembly convenes in Annapolis on Jan. 8.