According to Alsobrooks: Who governs Prince George’s County and for how long?

By KIT SLACK

On the Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving, two women took the top positions in Prince George’s County government by default, unsure when and how they might be ousted from their new roles.

First, on Dec. 2, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks resigned, meaning Tara Jackson, the top administrative official, became acting county executive.

Then, on December 3rd, the district council failed to find a majority to elect a council chairman for the coming year.

With no candidate receiving a majority of votes, incumbent leader Jolene Ivey claimed victory as the new leader for 2025 in a prepared speech.

Council member Thomas Dernoga (District 1) and Krystal Oriadha (District 7) interrupted the end of this speech.

Dernoga asked County Administrator Collette Gresham to confirm that Ivey would continue to be chairman by default. Gresham said that was her interpretation of the rules.

Ivey said a new leader could be elected at any time with eight votes from the 11-member council.

Oriadha said she believes only six are needed. Gresham said she thinks Oriadha is right, but an opinion from the district attorney may be needed.

Dernoga then congratulated Ivy.

“Wow, thank you so much, Mr. Dernoga, that makes a girl feel really good,” Ivey said briefly, sarcastically, during a session in which she largely followed prepared remarks about her performance as council president in a tight budget year and she offered thanks to council members and staff.

Dernoga represents District 1, which includes North College Park and Laurel. He served as Chairman of the Council for a year before Ivey. Under Ivey’s leadership, the county council reversed measures that Dernoga had advocated and that were unfavorable to developers.

If Senator-elect Alsobrooks had waited a few days to resign as county executive, the election of a county executive would have been even more contentious. Under District lawthe council president could have become the interim county executive instead of Jackson.

The divided district council Now the timing of the special elections must be decided to fill the district leadership seat and a district council representative for District 5. District 5 includes Colmar Manor, Bladensburg, Cheverly and Glenarden.

Ivey was the District 5 representative but was elected as general council member Represent the entire county in the November election and fill a vacancy Mel Franklin has resigned.

The county council managed to elect a vice chair on Dec. 3 with six votes for Councilman Ed Burroughs (Ward 8). He will serve as vice chair for 2025, succeeding Councilman Sidney Harrison (District 9).