By KIT SLACK
Yesterday, Feb. 12, Jolene Ivey, the chair of the Prince George’s County Council, let supporters and the press know that she was withdrawing from the county executive electoral race.
Ivey told ABC7’s Brad Bell that she was withdrawing for personal, financial and practical reasons, ahead of a debate Bell moderated Wednesday night.
In a statement to supporters, Ivey said she would continue to fight for them on the county council.
Ivey had made a $250,000 loan to her campaign on Jan. 6 which brought her fundraising total on par with State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy.
If Ivey or At-large County Councilmember Calvin Hawkins were elected county executive, another special election would take place to fill the empty seat on the county council.
This could be the third county council special election in one calendar year. Last summer and fall the county held a special election to replace At-large County Councilmember Mel Franklin, who was accused of embezzling his campaign funds. Because Ivey won the countywide seat Franklin had left open, residents of District 5, Ivey’s former district, are electing a new county council member in this spring’s special election, in addition to voting in the countywide race for county executive.
If Braveboy were elected county executive, a judge would appoint a new state’s attorney for Prince George’s County.
For more information on the county executive race, see our voter guide and campaign finance analysis.
