Primary to replace councilman set for April

Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008

Primary to replace councilman set for April

Harrington starts work in state Senate, replacing Britt

— Janel Davis and Daniel Valentine |

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The Prince George’s County Council agreed Monday to hold a special election to replace former Council Chairman David C. Harrington (D-Dist. 5) of Cheverly.

Harrington left the council to take over the District 47 state Senate seat of Gwendolyn T. Britt, 66, who died last month from apparent heart failure. He will serve out the rest of her term, which ends in 2010. Harrington was sworn in to the state Senate Friday afternoon, a week after winning a contentious battle for the seat that had included a former state delegate and two current legislators.

Potential candidates for the empty council seat have until March 4 to submit their names for a special primary on April 1. The two winners from each party primary will face off May 6 in the special general election to represent voters in Bladensburg, Cheverly, Edmonston, Fairmount Heights, Glenarden, Landover, Colmar Manor, Cottage City and Mitchellville.

County Board of Elections officials have estimated the special election could cost $1 million, which will be funded by the county.

During his remarks to a packed Senate chamber of county officials, supporters and family members, Harrington, 53, said he will bring the theme of ‘‘community first” to his state position.

The former Prince George’s County Council chairman fought back tears as he related the story of his mother, Audrey, who had breast cancer and died of a heart attack at 48; and his father, Buster, who died at 69 while running to a bus headed to his minimum wage job. Harrington called the swearing in ‘‘a monumental moment” to have his son, Christopher, 19, in attendance in light of his own parents’ early deaths.

‘‘I’m here because of Audrey and Buster,” Harrington said. ‘‘... and I want to make sure there are no more Audrey and Buster’s that have to sacrifice.”

In the audience were Prince George’s County Council members Samuel H. Dean (D-Dist. 6) of Mitchellville, who succeeds Harrington as council chairman, and Camille Exum (D-Dist. 7) of Seat Pleasant, as well as Harrington’s wife, Cheryl.

Harrington secured the county’s Democratic Central Committee’s recommendation for the seat by one vote, beating out former delegate Rushern L. Baker. Britt’s widower, Travis Britt, and District 47 delegates Jolene Ivey of Cheverly and Victor R. Ramirez of Mount Rainier also unsuccessfully vied for the seat.