BY JOE MURCHISON
Courtesy of Martin Mitchell
Former Laurel City Councilmember Martin Mitchell (At-large) held a kickoff for his campaign for the District 1 seat on the Prince George’s County Council on March 29 at the Spectrum Lounge in Beltsville.
Mitchell, a politics and public affairs consultant, is one of three Democrats who have announced their candidacy. The other two are current Laurel City Councilmember Jeffrey Mills (Ward 2) and Michelle Garcia, chief of staff for the current District 1 County Councilmember Tom Dernoga. The primary for the race will be in June 2026, more than a year away, with the general election the following November.
About 50 people attended Mitchell’s kickoff. Brian Wink, who was Mitchell’s government and law teacher at Laurel High School, recalled thinking that Mitchell would either become a lawyer or politician. “He would argue his progressive views with tenacity and temerity,” Wink said.
Wink also recalled a time when a student was being booed by his classmates, and Mitchell intervened to stop them. “I was very impressed with that,” Wink said. “I couldn’t be more proud of him than if he were my own son.”
Paul Manner, a psychologist who lived next door to Mitchell, said he was proud “to see him becoming a champion for the community” in helping tenants stay in their homes in the face of rising rents. Manner recalled one instance where one of his clients faced eviction, and Mitchell found money to prevent that. “That was very touching to me,” Manner said.
Phelecia Nembhard, former mayor of New Carrollton, said she had worked with Mitchell to distribute toys to residents of Shepherd’s Cove, the county’s principal shelter for women and children in Capitol Heights. Cashenna Cross, mayor of Glendarden, also attended the kickoff.
Mitchell said that since leaving the city council last year after an unsuccessful run for mayor, “I haven’t stopped organizing; I haven’t stopped my advocacy.” He mentioned hosting a toy distribution at the Laurel Boys and Girls Club at Christmas. “We gave away 500 toys with no staff and no budget.”
He said that several of his priorities are to seek housing solutions for lower-income residents, including advocating for a bill before the county council to allow tiny homes; helping individuals reestablish in the community after incarceration; and redeveloping Route 1.
