David Harrington

Andrea Fletcher Harrison (D-Springdale) cruised to victory in Tuesday's special election to fill the District 5 vacancy on the Prince George's County Council. With 100 percent of the precincts reporting, Harrison received more than 87 percent of the vote over Republican Steven Johnson, a businessman from Cheverly. The victory was expected in the heavily Democratic district.

Harrison has served the past five years as the deputy chief of staff for the District 5 council office, where she worked as the policy director for Councilman David Harrington (D-Cheverly). Harrington replaced the deceased Sen. Gwendolyn Britt in the General Assembly, leading to the council opening.

Reducing crime is one of the most important issues facing Prince George’s County today, according to Adrion Howell (D-Glenn Dale), a local lobbyist and former liaison to Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson.

Howell vowed to work to “increase the size of the police force” in the county, if he is elected to fill the open District 5 county council seat vacated by state Sen. David Harrington (D-Cheverly), who was promoted to the General Assembly following the death of Gwendolyn Britt.

Andrea Fletcher Harrison (D-Prince George’s County) cited her experience working closely with members of the Prince George’s County Council as her edge against the eight others vying to fill the open District 5 council seat vacated by David Harrington (D-Cheverly), who replaced the deceased Sen. Gwendolyn Britt in the General Assembly. 

“I have been serving the residents of Prince George’s County for the past six years,” Harrison told PolitickerMD.com.  

Harrison has served the past five years as the deputy chief of staff for the District 5 council office. She previously served one year as a constituent services liaison.

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 1199 United Healthcare Workers East, Maryland Division, has endorsed Mayor Adam Ortiz (D-Edmonston) in his bid to fill the open District 5 Prince George's County Council seat vacated by David Harrington, who replaced the deceased Sen. Gwendolyn Britt in the General Assembly.

The union also endorsed Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) in her successful Democratic primary campaign in Maryland’s Fourth Congressional District.

“Like Donna Edwards, Adam Ortiz is a new kind of leader in Prince George’s County,” John Reid, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, Maryland Division, said in a statement. “By putting people before politics, Adam Ortiz will be a fresh voice and a force for change on the county council.”

Adam Ortiz, the two-term Democratic mayor from Edmonston, has received the endorsement of the organization Progressive Cheverly in his bid to fill the open District 5 Prince George's County Council seat vacated by David Harrington, who replaced the deceased Gwendolyn Britt in the state Senate. 

According to their website, www.pipeline.com/~progchev/index.htm, Progressive Cheverly serves to promote "economic fairness, social justice, basic human rights, a sustainable environment, a tolerant society and world peace through a more informed political dialogue and active participation in civil society and the democratic political process." 

Terry Doyle, a spokesperson for the organization, told PolitickerMD.com that the group endorsed Ortiz because of his “environmental concerns” and “long-term concern about Prince George's Hospital.”

Several candidates have already declared their intentions to fill the open District 5 Prince George’s County Council seat, vacated by David Harrington, who replaced the deceased Gwendolyn Britt in the state Senate.

Andrea Fletcher Harrison, a longtime aide to Harrington, has announced her candidacy to fill the seat. Harrison is the daughter of former council member James C. Fletcher, Jr. In 2002, she ran for a House Delegate position in District 24, but did not make it past the Democratic primary.

While Harrington’s support for Harrison may help her bid, Adrion Howell, another candidate, has the backing of Kweisi Mfume, the former president of the NAACP and Maryland congressman.

Howell, a Democratic strategist, is also reported to be actively seeking the endorsement of Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson. The two men are close, and Howell used to serve as Johnson’s liaison to the county council.

With Johnson's Help, Baker Thwarted Again

Former Del. Rushern Baker: Addressing the PG Democratic Central Committee LANDOVER - David Harrington, chairman of the Prince George's County Council, was selected by the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee to fill the vacant District 47 Senate seat here last night.

Harrington received 12 of the 23 votes cast by the central committee, with chairman Terry Speigner casting the deciding vote in Harrington's favor over former Del. Rushern Baker, who received 11 votes.

The committee's recommendation will now be sent to Gov. Martin O'Malley for approval. Once approved, Harrington will serve the remainder of the District 47 term left vacant by the death of Sen. Gwendolyn Britt on Jan. 12. The current term runs through 2010.

Delegate Jolene Ivey did not receive a vote from the central committee. Travis Britt, the husband of the late senator, had been a candidate, but he withdrew his name from consideration prior to the vote. Two other candidates, Delegates Victor Ramirez and Doyle Niemann, also withdrew. Candice Henry, a local resident and substitute school teacher also competed in the race.