A vocal Leslie Johnson spent her final Prince George’s County Council meeting Tuesday voting on a bevy of legislation and appointments, before swiftly leaving the council dais for the last time. Johnson, D-Mitchellville, plans to resign July 31 after pleading guilty June 30 to charges of conspiracy to commit federal witness and evidence tampering. She admitted to stuffing $79,600 in cash in her bra and underwear and flushing a $100,000 check down the toilet at the instruction of her husband, then-County Executive Jack Johnson.
Despite the urging of her fellow council members to step down immediately, Johnson has remained a steady, if not awkward, presence at council meetings. She was stripped of her staff and county-issued property July 8.
On Tuesday — the council’s last meeting before its summer recess — Johnson voiced her concerns with storm water regulations’ effect on development and was the lone vote against a bill requiring developers seeking tax-increment-financing loans from the county to hire workers trained in apprenticeship programs.
Most contractors in the county don’t use apprenticeships, and Johnson said she believed “the policy could hurt small and minority business participation in the county.”
The council has scheduled an Aug. 2 meeting to announce terms and dates for a special election to fill Johnson’s seat, according to Council Chairwoman Ingrid Turner, D-Bowie.
Bob Ross, president of the Prince George’s County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said residents are eager to move past the stain left on the county by Johnson and her husband.
“Leslie is leaving. Unfortunately, she’s leaving under a difficult situation for her personally,” Ross said. “But that history is behind us.” – Ben Giles
