Prince George’s County Council Chair Jolene Ivey (D). (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters)
Less than three weeks before the primary in a special election for county executive, Prince George’s County Council Chair Jolene Ivey pulled out of the race Wednesday.
“I want to thank all of my volunteers and supporters for standing with me,” Ivey wrote in a Facebook post Wednesday. “I look forward to continue fighting for the people of Prince George’s County as a member of the County Council.”
Ivey said she was unable to discuss her decision further Wednesday. But with countywide name recognition and nearly $430,000 in her campaign account, thanks to a $250,000 loan last month, she was genearlly seen as one of the top candidates to succeed U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D), who left the county executive seat in December to be sworn in to the Senate.
Alsobrooks recently endorsed At-Large Councilmember Calvin Hawkins (D), now one of eight Democrats running in the March 4 special primary for county executive.
Hawkins was one of several Democratic opponents to release a statement about Ivey’s decision to end her campaign.
“When I become County Executive, I look forward to collaborating with Chair Ivey in our efforts to address the pressing needs of our residents — be it enhancing public safety, improving education, or fostering economic growth,” Hawkins’s statement said. “I am looking forward to working alongside Chair Ivey, leveraging her experience and insights to ensure that our policies reflect the aspirations and needs of all Prince George’s County residents.”
Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy, who had the biggest campaign fund of county executive candidates, reporting $530,299 by Jan. 8 to the Maryland State Board of Elections, thanked Ivey “for her commitment to Prince George’s County.”
“I appreciate her service to the community,” Braveboy said in an emailed statement. “I’ve worked alongside her in the state legislature, as well as on the council, and I look forward to our working together for a stronger Prince George’s County.”
Former County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, who lives in Cheverly, like Ivey, has known her for more than three decades.
“She has been a relentless advocate for our community, and I commend her for stepping up to run for County Executive,” Baker said in a text message. “I know this decision was made with great thought and care for the future of Prince George’s County. I look forward to speaking with her in the coming days about how we can collaborate to uplift our county.”
The other five Democratic candidates are state Sen. Alonzo Washington (D-Prince George’s), Marcellus Crews, Ron Hunt, Albert Slocum and Tonya Sweat. The three Republicans, who have all sought public office before, are George E. McDermott, Jesse Peed and Jonathan White.
Ivey was one of the first to formally announce for county executive after Alsobrooks officially stepped down in early December. Some residents questioned Ivey’s decision to run for county executive seat just weeks after winning the at-large seat in a November special election to replace former County Councilmember Mel Franklin.
Others have grumbled about the rising costs of special elections to fill the rotating list of county seats: Ivey’s election to Franklin’s seat, after his conviction on campaign theft charges, opened her District 5 council seat, which will be filled in special elections alongside the county executive’s race. Depending on who wins the county executive’s race, it could mean another special election to fill the county seat that person would vacate.
Those races combined are expected to cost the county millions of dollars.
Residents in the county’s District 5 area, which includes Cheverly, Bladensburg and Glenarden, will not only choose a county executive candidate, but also a new councilmember to fill Ivey’s old seat.
“People are growing weary of costly special elections,” Cheverly resident Dan Smith said in a text message Wednesday. “If At-Large Councilmember Hawkins does not follow suit, voters should reject him.”