Wynn’s offices remain open

The Capitol Hill and congressional district offices of former U.S. Rep. Al Wynn (D-Mitchellville) will remain open under the supervision of House Clerk Lorraine Miller until a new member is elected to represent the people of Maryland's 4th Congressional District.

Wynn officially resigned on May 31, a little more than two months after announcing he would step down seven months before his term was set to expire. The U.S. representative, now working for a Washington, D.C., law firm, lost his bid for re-nomination to activist Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) in the Feb. 12 primary.

Members of Wynn's staff will be available to answer phone calls and handle constituent needs at his Washington office and at his two district offices in Largo and Gaithersburg.

A staff member in the Washington office, who asked not to be identified, said the "staff is handling transitional needs," and was operating under a "water-downed version" of previous duties. She said things had been relatively quiet in the period since Wynn's resignation, and there was "nothing specific" that constituents had inquired about. 

The staffer said the office would remain open through Monday, and would close for Tuesday's special election between Edwards and Peter James (R-Germantown). The staffer also said she did not know if the office would re-open on Wednesday.

A spokesman for the House clerk's office, however, said the 4th district office "shouldn't be closed at any time for constituent needs."

The spokesman said the offices were remaining open under the caretaker provision of the House rules, where the clerk is responsible for managing the offices when a member dies, resigns or is expelled.  That authority does not include voting representation and continues until a successor is elected to fill the vacant seat. 

Edwards is expected to win the June 17 election; no word yet on when she would be sworn-in.