Delegate Justin Ross to resign from the House of Delegates

Prince George’s County Delegate Justin Ross (D-Greenbelt) has announced his resignation from the Maryland House of Delegates to take a better paying positions sources say within the AFL-CIO International. Ross, who was elected in 2002 is in his third term after being reelected in 2010, is one of the most well liked members of the Prince George’s Delegation. As a Chief Deputy Whip and Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Ross served on the leadership team of Speaker Michael Busch. His role helped push through controversial bills like gambling, same-sex marriage, and the Dream Act through one of the state’s most conservative delegations.

Ross’ resignation will be a body blow to the Prince George’s delegation. His contacts helped the county continue a record of impressive victories for increased state funding for education, public safety, and general operations. It also opens a door for what Ross may do next. Few if any sources believe Ross is leaving politics for good. Delegate Ross was often mentioned as a possible successor to Rep. Steny Hoyer should he decide to retire in the near future.

In the letter below announcing his resignation, Ross says he will step down on November 9th. That will give the Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee 30 days to recommend a replacement to Governor Martin O’Malley on who should serve the remaining two years of the unexpired term. Rumors are a number of local leaders are potentially lining up to seek that appointment including Central Committeeman Alonzo Washington, Chief of Staff to Prince George’s County Councilman Will Campos. Washington is often mentioned as a frontrunner to replace Campos on the council when he is termed out in 2014.

Filling the seat vacated by Ross is not the only vote members of the Central Committee are preparing for. Everyone expects Delegate Tiffany Alston to be forced from her seat within the next few weeks as a result of a number of criminal charges. Should that happen the committee will also be tasked with recommending her replacement.

Full resignation letter from Delegate Justin Ross -

I am writing to tell you that after 10 amazing years representing you in the Maryland House of Delegates that I will be retiring on November 9th to spend more time with my lovely wife, my 4 beautiful children, and to concentrate on giving back to Prince George’s County as a private citizen and as a member of the business community. Words cannot possibly express the gratitude I feel for the opportunities that you have given me. Representing my hometown in the legislature over the past decade has truly been a dream come true.

Together, we have been part of some important political battles back in Prince George’s County, as well as some truly historic votes in Annapolis. I have had the pleasure of meeting some of the most committed neighborhood activists around, as well as serving with some of the most honorable public servants, Democrats and Republicans. The experience was a true gift, in every sense of the word, so please allow me just a couple of thoughts that I would like to share.

In November of 2001, when my wife and I returned from our honeymoon, we immediately set out for the campaign trail.  We were newly married, had just bought a house in College Park and were preparing to run for an open seat that was vacated by then Delegate Rushern Baker (what ever happened to that guy ). We hit our first doors in February of 2002 and I spent countless hours handing out our “Justin Ross” pens at the Hamilton Street, Route 450, and Greenbelt Safeway’s. That campaign consisted of 50,000 pieces of literature, 10,000 pens, at least 1,000 yard signs, enough red Ross t-shirts to outfit a small city, 100 volunteers for the Greenbelt Labor Day Parade (including FDR’s grandson Jim Roosevelt), 1 new district map in the middle of the campaign, and 1 awesome victory party at Lasick’s Restaurant. Since then, I have had the pleasure of attending Berwyn Heights pancake breakfasts, lead Fourth of July Parades in University Park, attend National Nights Out with Beacon Heights and Templeton Knolls, listen to live music at Summer Jams in Hyattsville, attend “New Carrollton Days”, go caroling in Riverdale Park, barbecue with my friends in Kingswood, and last but not least visit the Greenbelt Golden Age Club (I love you guys!!) I have had the pleasure of helping organize civic associations, assist with immigration issues, court new business to our community, tour flooded basements, meet with crime victims in their time of need, and help encourage and support kids on their way to college.

Although some of it was difficult it never felt like work.  After 10 years of working for, with, and alongside Prince Georgians, I know today what I have known my whole life; that we are a proud, hardworking, and resilient group of people. I am grateful to have represented constituents, who are thoughtful, well informed, and passionate about their community.  My decision to retire was not an easy one but it was made easier in knowing that, together, we have made a great deal of progress for Prince George’s County.

Let me say a couple of “thank you’s” before I wrap this up. First, I want to say thank you to my wife Nancy, without you none of this would have been possible. I want to thank my children Caroline, Andrew, Jackson, and Katherine for being my living reminders of why we need a society that strives for a better tomorrow.  I want to thank my Mom, Dad, sister Abby, and the rest of my family for supporting me in this endeavor (and walking in A LOT of parades).  I want to thank Brad Frome, Ryan Duffy, Gia Franzone, Kim Mayhew, Nick Leonardi, Walter Moody, and everyone else that has worked in my office on behalf of the 22nd District. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Senator Paul Pinsky, and Delegates Ann Healey and Tawanna Gaines for being great partners for our district. Finally, I want to thank the citizens of the 22nd District. 10 years ago, I asked for your vote, but what you gave me was your trust, love, and support. It was a truly amazing experience and from the bottom of my heart I want to say thank you, I love you, and I’ll never forget it.

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FROM THE EDITORIAL BOARD- Johnson case is a test in leadership for the council

Council Chairwoman Ingrid Turner who has not called for Leslie Johnson to resign.

Regular readers of this blog will know it is not common for us to engage in much editorial or opinion writing. It is true we write stories that may carry our personal bias but we don’t write simply off of our opinion, until today.

When Jack and Leslie Johnson were first both arrested for charges of corruption last year many in Prince George’s, including a good number of us, felt the media was focusing too much attention on casting a much too wide net and not placing enough blame on those at the heart of the issue. Editorials last year blasted our elected officials for their near unified silence on the issue. Yes it is true the top priority for this government should be to create jobs, grow our economy, fully fund our schools, and keep the streets clean, but to put our heads down in the sand and ignore the elephant in the room is just too much.

Last December we didn’t join the calls for Leslie Johnson not to take office. Some of the members of our editorial board felt she shouldn’t be sworn in but we understood the law and even held out some higher belief in the constitution that she was innocent until proven (or she plead) guilty. She has done that and now is the time to step down and should she decide not to then her colleagues on the council should help her make that decision. Putting it simply it should be made clear that her continued service on the council would not be acceptable nor comfortable. This is a moment for leadership and that is just what Chairwoman Ingrid Turner and others can provide immediately.

Yesterday just hours after Johnson plead guilty Executive Rushern Baker said, “I believe the process of healing should not be delayed or deferred”. He was right. He also said, “It is in the best interest of Prince George’s County that Council Member Leslie Johnson resigns from the County Council.” He is right again. That is the same message her friend, sorority sister, and colleague Ms. Turner should send. It is also the message her other colleagues Ms. Toles, Mr. Patterson, Mrs. Harrison, Ms. Lehman who also have not called on her to resign should send. They can start as soon as their next meeting by passing a resolution of no-confidence and calling on Mrs. Johnson to resign. Yes it is a purely ceremonial but it will let Johnson know clearly where the legislative body of Prince George’s County stands. Ms. Turner can go even further. We know that Ms. Turner had been advised that the council has wide latitude to strip Johnson of other discretionary privileges such as a staff budget. The Washington Post is reporting Johnson has a number of events coming up such as a business card exchange. Turner and the council should strip the funding for those programs as well as any support for them.

The decision of if or when Leslie Johnson will resign before October 13^th is totally up to Johnson alone. The acts she committed her for Johnson to atone for alone. However allowing Johnson to remain an active member of the council for three more months taking in $28,000 in taxpayer dollars after being the reason the county will already be forced hundreds of thousands of dollars in a special election is about leadership. Ms. Turner your time to step up is now.

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Where They Stand, Who thinks Leslie Johnson should step down?

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker and County Council Vice-Chair Eric Olson are two of the first leaders to call for District 6 Councilwoman Leslie Johnson to step down after pleading guilty to corruption charges today in federal court. Under Maryland law she is able to remain on the council until she is sentenced on October 13th. Her almost $8,000 a month salary means she will be paid about $24,000 in taxpayer dollars in the meantime.

One of the main complaints against all of the county’s leaders has been the silence on the issue of corruption since the arrests of Jack and Leslie Johnson last year. That continued after Jack Johnson pleaded guilty earlier this year and for the most part today as well. So we wanted to see just how many county leaders are ready to break that silence and speak out by asking all of the county council members, school board members, members of the Democratic and Republican central committees, and local leaders in her district if they thought she should step down before October. We will keep track of those responses here as they come in.

County Executive Rushern Baker

County Council Vice-Chair Eric Olson who called for her not to be sworn in last December

County Councilman Will Campos who refused to call for her not to take her seat in December

County Councilman Mel Franklin who also called for her not to be sworn in last December with Eric Olson

County Councilwoman Mary Lehman says she is frustrated with federal prosecutors for not forcing Johnson to step down in plea arrangement. She calls for her to step down at once.

Democratic Central Committeeman Salome Peters

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