WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA)-- This is a special election to fill the council seat of Leslie Johnson. She, along with her husband--former county executive Jack Johnson-- pled guilty to federal corruption charges.
14 Democrats and one Republican are vying to succeed Leslie Johnson--who on July 31 stepped down from the council after admitting to destroying evidence in the probe.
District 6 includes South Bowie, Capitol Heights, District Heights, Forestville, Kettering, Largo, Mitchellville and Upper Marlboro.
Poll hours are 7am-8pm.
Democratic
Cassandra "Casey" Lewis
She is a member of the Kettering Community Association Board of Directors and is the secretary of the Democratic Central Committee for District 23. She is a real estate agent.
Website: http://votecaseylewis.com/
Margaret U. Okoroji-Schaeffer
She is a state social worker for both Baltimore and Prince George's County. She holds a master's degree in criminology. She is part of the Arrowhead Elementary School Parent Teacher Association, a member of the American Federal State, County and Municipal Employees, and a member of the Maryland Classified Employees Association Inc.
Website: Under construaction
Christine A. Osei
She has spent 22 years as a Community Land Use Planner at the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. She has volunteered time at two Prince George's County Public Schools: Doswell E. Brooks Elementary School in Capitol Heights and Berkshire Elementary School in Suitland. She is a former President of the Collington Manor Homeowner's Association and Architectural Committee Chair from 1999-2001. She holds a MA in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of the District of Columbia, 1985 and 1989.
Website: http://osei4district6.org/biography.htm
Mark Polk
He is an attorney and retired police captain. Prior to that, he was a police officer in Gainesville, Florida. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 89 Board of Directors and was also the Legislative Committee Chairman on the Executive Board, where he lobbied for police issues in Annapolis.
Website: http://www.votemarkpolk.com/
Brad Donnie Ray
He is a businessman. He is president and chief executive officer of the Largo-based Right Corporations, an energy company he founded in 1987. He has been a volunteer firefighter in Prince George's County since 1985. He is a counselor at First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Upper Marlboro and a Parent Teacher Association member at Kettering Elementary. He is also a member of the Prince Frederick chapter of the NAACP.
Website: Under construction
Sherine Taylor
She is a human resources specialist. She has Worked for The Arc of Prince George's County and with small companies, which involved working with youth, providing them with skills that they can take and apply to school and life. She is also a Member of Society of Human Resources Management
Website: http://electtaylor.com/about/
Arthur Turner
He is a county liquor inspector and owner of Arthur Turner and Associates, a marketing and consulting firm who ran for the seat in last fall's election against Leslie E. Johnson. He is a former chairman of the Prince George's Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee. He is also the chairman of the board of directors of the Capitol Heights-based United Communities Against Poverty. In the past, he served as vice-chairman of the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee, president of Coalition of Central Prince George's County Community Organization, president of the Towns of Kettering Home Owners Association, chairman of the Prince George's County Chamber of Commerce Quality of Life Committee, member of the Board of Directors Prince George's County Library Foundation, member of the Blue Line Extension Advisory Group and Transit Oriented Development Advisory committees for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, member of the Planning Advisory Group for the Largo-Lottsford Area Sector Plan, and member of the PEPCO Community Advisory Group.
Website: http://www.votearthurturner.com/cms/who-is-arthur/
Venus Bethea
She ran in the fall Democratic primary finishing fourth of six. She is a residential counselor for The Arc of Prince George's County. She was elected as vice president in 2010 and president in 2011 of Melwood Park Homeowner's Association in Upper Marlboro. She serves as mentor to young women independently and through several Prince George's County organizations. She also volunteers for an HIV/AIDS organization, Heart to Hand. Professional associations. She is a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Website: http://www.venusbethea.com/
Van Caldwell
He has served in the Air Force from and worked as a foreign service officer with the U.S. State Department in the late 1970s. He is now a special assistant to director of county Department of Public Works and Transportation. He has been in the PTSA for 13 years, is part of the Kettering Civic Federation, a volunteer for Men Aiming Higher mentoring organization and part of the Smart Growth Network.
Website: http://votevancaldwell.com/
Thirl Crudup
He has previously worked as a community representative for the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex in Landover. He is a pharmaceutical account executive at Hospira. He also worked to create and build the Theresa Banks Swim Club, a swim team that practices in Suitland.
Website: Under construction
Derrick Leon Davis
He is senior manager of the County's Head Start program. He is a former school system official and current chairman of the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund, He is a member or the North Canterbury Estates Civic Association, a mentor in the EMBODI Youth Mentorship Program, a member in Envision Prince George, Chairman of Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund Board of Trustees, a member of the Maryland Democratic Central Committee, 25th Legislative District, and a member of Airports Advisory Committee.
Website: http://www.teamdavis2011.com/
Wanda J. Dixon McKnight
She is an attorney and former prosecutor who served from 1990 to 2000 as an assistant state's attorney for Prince George's County. She has also worked for the U.S. Department of Justice.
She is involved in the Largo Civic Association, Grant Professionals Association, American Evaluators Association and Charity Channel.
Website: www.facebook.com/voteforwanda
Esther S. Hankerson
She is a retired teacher who worked in District of Columbia Public Schools and served as Vice President of the Washington Teachers' Union. She is of Kettering Community Association and member of the Network of Church Administrators.
Website: Under construction
Wayne Lynwood Leach
He is a computer specialist/network support technician for the Prince George's County Intergovernmental Network. Leach has taught computer classes to first- through eighth-grade students at Our Lady of Perpetual Hope School in the District. He is a board member of the Prince Hall Freemason and Eastern Star Charitable Foundation and the former executive director of the Dr. Gary Randolph Davis Research Foundation.
Website: Under construction
Republican
Day Gardner
She is the associate director of the National Pro-Life Center in Washington, D.C. She was the first African-American woman to place in the top 10 in the Miss America pageant and a member of the Republican Central Committee for Prince George's County. She is currently the president of the National Black Pro-Life Union and associate director of the National Pro-Life Center.
Website: http://www.daygardner.com/jobs-a-prosperity/4-prince-georges-county-open-for-business