Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson’s nominees for three top county positions were sworn into office Tuesday afternoon.
Stephanie Anderson, Jamilah Adams and Alfred McMurray became county attorney, executive director of the Human Relations Commission and director of the Department of Corrections following County Council confirmation hearings. The council confirmed all three unanimously.
“I was really excited,” Johnson said after the swearing-in ceremonies, “especially with McMurray.”
According to Johnson, some had raised concern that McMurray didn’t graduate from college. But during his swearing-in ceremony, Johnson said, “There was never a question in my mind who should lead the department when Barry Stanton left.”
Stanton previously headed the department before becoming assistant county manager in Frederick. McMurray, a Washington native, has been with the department for 25 years. McMurray told The Examiner he has “goals to expand programs for inmates, increase staff development” and to partner with other county agencies “to promote a system of shared information” among other things.
Born in Alabama, Anderson has been with the county’s Office of Law since 1989. A graduate of University of Maryland, College Park and University ofMaryland law school, she is the first black woman to head the office.
Anderson told The Examiner she wants to “deliver quality and competent legal advice to our clients and to help the agencies of government deliver their function.”
The new county attorney said she believes in “team building,” which begins in her office and extends “outward to other agencies of county government.”
From 1991 until 2006, Adams worked in the Prince George’s State’s Attorney’s Office. Last year, she moved to the county’s Office of Law. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Adams attended Temple University and Howard University School of Law.
“We need civil rights organizations today more than ever,” Adams said during her swearing-in ceremony. She said she wants to increase the visibility of her office in the community.
