By SHARON O’MALLEY
Thirteen candidates have registered to run in a special primary election on Aug. 6 to replace former Prince George’s County Councilmember Mel Franklin (At-Large), who resigned in June amid charges of embezzlement, felony theft scheme and perjury.
Council Chair Jolene Ivey (District 5), a Democrat, of Bladensburg, was the first to announce her candidacy for the vacant seat.
Eight additional Democratic candidates filed by the July 5 deadline: Tim Adams, the mayor of Bowie since 2019; former Maryland Delegate Angela Angel; Tamara Davis Brown, of Clinton, who ran unsuccessfully for Maryland Senate in 2022; Leo Bachi Eyombo, of Suitland, who made an unsuccessful run for county council in 2022; Marvin E. Holmes Jr., of Upper Marlboro, a member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 23B; Kiesha D. Lewis, of Bowie, a self-described federal government whistleblower; Judy Mickens-Murray, of Upper Marlboro, a former member of the county Board of Education; and Gabriel Njinimbot, of Laurel, who ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic primary for the District 4 congressional seat this spring.
Republican candidates include Kamita Gray, of Brandywine, a community and environmental activist; Michael Riker, of Cheltenham, a retired police detective; Isaac Toyos, of Riverdale, a legislative affairs analyst for the federal government; and Jonathan White, of Upper Marlboro, a veteran who has worked in government security.
The winners of the Democratic and Republican primaries will face off on Election Day, Nov. 5, when county residents will also vote for candidates for the U.S. House and Senate, and the presidency.
