Harrison Elected to Pr. Geo.'s Council

Prince George's voters have elected Springdale resident Andrea Harrison to the County Council, in a low turn-out special election to fill a vacant seat.

Harrison, a Democrat, overwhelmingly defeated Republican Steven W. Johnson, a consultant from Cheverly for the District 5 seat, which represents a swath of central Prince George's County stretching from the northeast District border through Glenarden. With all but absentee and provisional ballots counted, Harrison had captured more than 86 percent of the vote.

She will be sworn in to the nine-member body on May 19.

The seat became vacant when former council member David C. Harrington (D) was selected to fill a state senate seat that opened with the January death of Sen. Gwendolyn T. Britt (D).

Harrison, a lifelong county resident, served as a staffer in the offices of both previous occupants of the seat. She was endorsed by Harrington, as well as by state Sen. Nathaniel Exum (D), and campaigned on a promised to continue Harrington's community outreach efforts.

Harrison's father also once held the seat.

Less than 5 percent of the district's approximately 40,000 voters came out to vote in the special election. Turnout was slightly better for the April 1 special primary election for the seat, when Harrison defeated six other candidates to win the Democratic nomination for the seat.