Prince George’s Council To Hold Special Election to Replace Convicted Leslie Johnson

The Prince George’s County Council Tuesday approved a resolution for a special election to replace former Councilwoman Leslie E. Johnson who resigned last week after pleading guilty in a corruption scandal.

During a special meeting in Upper Marlboro, the council unanimously approved a Sept. 20 primary date and an Oct. 18 general election for District 6, which includes South Bowie, Capitol Heights, District Heights, Forestville, Kettering, Largo and Mitchellville. Because the community is heavily Democratic, it is expected that the winner of the primary will also win the general election.

Johnson’s resignation and the election of new council member will mark the close of an embarrassing chapter for the Prince George’s County Council. Johnson, along with her husband former County Executive Jack Johnson, both agreed to earlier this summer to corruption charges. Leslie Johnson will be sentenced Oct. 13, and Jack Johnson will be sentenced Sept. 15. 

Upon her plea, for Johnson to resign from office immediately but the councilwoman set a J and continued to sit on the council, voting on legislation, for several more weeks. Council members said they were by her bravado but could do little to forcibly her from office.

But by this week, evidence of Johnson’s tenure on the council has seemingly been removed. Her name had been stripped from the council dais and her images and bio have been deleted from the council website. Council members Tuesday made no reference to her when discussing the special election.

Council Chair Ingrid M Turner (D-Dist. 4), agreed that she wanted the council to put the episode behind it.

“Anytime a person gets convicted, it’s an embarrassment,” she said. “We couldn’t allow the ability of one person to deter the train.”

Turner said the council wanted to have the special election as soon as possible so that residents in District 6 will be represented on the council. Under Johnson, residents in the district had limited representation on subcommittees, which often shape legislation before the council votes, because the council members stripped Johnson of her subcommittee privileges. 

Candidates have already begun lining up for the special election. Turner said she expects it to go smoothly.

“This has happened before, it’s nothing new,” she said. “That’s why we are [having the election] as quickly as possible.”