Prince George's County votes on council size
Voters decide on at-large seats and new business taxes while incumbents face minor challenges.
By Kevin Iyer ·
Prince George's County voters will decide Tuesday whether to shrink their local government. The ballot includes two questions that could change how the county council operates and how it raises money. County Executive Aisha Braveboy faces a write-in challenger in a race where her re-election appears certain.
The most structural change comes from Question B. Voters added two at-large seats to the council in 2016. Now they must choose whether to keep them. A yes vote reduces the council from 11 to 9 members. Proponents argue the current setup creates a loophole. They say it allows sitting members to serve more than two consecutive terms, a limit otherwise enforced by charter. Opponents view the measure as a personal attack on specific officials.
Council member Jolene Ivey, an at-large representative, has clashed with Chair Krystal Oriadha. Oriadha supports the elimination of the seats. A no vote keeps the status quo and allows the at-large positions to remain. This debate plays out against a backdrop of recent tension within the legislative body.
Question A addresses fiscal powers. It asks if the council should impose taxes and fees on businesses deemed to harm community health, safety, or welfare. Examples include tobacco and liquor stores. A yes vote grants the council this power without a future public vote. A no vote maintains current restrictions. The county currently faces a lawsuit over a $5,000 annual fee on specific retail shops. The council also recently passed a bill banning tobacco sales, a move some observers call legally questionable.
The Board of Education has four open seats. In District 2, Terence Clegg runs against Caroline Decaire-Goldin. The seat has been empty since June when Jonathan Briggs resigned. Clegg works for the Department of Human Services. Decaire-Goldin works for the D.C. State Education Agency. In District 3, Juan Arango-Millan challenges Jamie McGonnigal. McGonnigal is a parent and former PTA president. He emphasized the need for flexibility in implementing state mandates.
District 6 features two newcomers: Tyra Janet Bennett and Ashley Kearney. Bennett founded a local literacy lab. Kearney serves on the Seat Pleasant City Council. District 9 is the only race with an incumbent. Chandrai Jackson-Saunders, a former D.C. teacher and psychologist, faces Erica Bennett, a PGCPS principal. Both candidates bring decades of experience in education leadership.
New Carrollton residents will also vote in a special election on Nov. 9. They must choose a new mayor to serve until May 2027. Phelecia Nembhard was removed from office in September over hiring freeze violations. Briana Urbina and former Mayor Katrina Dodro are running to fill the vacancy. Both candidates said they will seek a full term in the next general election.
