Prince George’s County officials set a special primary election for Sept. 20 to replace Councilwoman Leslie Johnson, D-Mitchellville, who resigned Sunday.
The County Council adopted a resolution Tuesday morning setting the special primary and a special general election on Oct. 18.
Johnson resigned at the urging of her fellow council members and County Executive Rushern Baker, who pushed the need for a swift election to move the county forward in the wake of pay-to-play scandals in Prince George’s that ensnared Johnson and her husband, former County Executive Jack Johnson.
The couple was arrested in November, and Leslie Johnson pleaded guilty to federal witness and evidence tampering charges in June. She admitted to flushing a $100,000 check down the toilet and stuffing $79,600 in cash in her bra and underwear at her Mitchellville home while FBI agents banged on the front door.
Council-hopefuls can begin filing their candidacy Aug. 3, and have until Aug. 23 to do so.
The race is shaping up as a rematch of the candidates Johnson defeated last fall, who now have a second chance to run for the County Council just a year after Johnson’s victory.
District Six residents have until Aug. 30 to register to vote in the primary election.
