Al Wynn

LARGO - U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) is continuing the process of hiring staff. Maryland’s newest U.S. Representative told PolitickerMD.com, “We’re in the process of interviewing for our senior staff, legislative director, chief of staff and district manager.” 

 “And then we’re going to have a really terrific team management concept,” she added. “We’re going to proceed to open up district offices,” throughout MD-4.

U.S. Rep.-elect Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) will be sworn-in at approximately 1:45 p.m. today inside the House Chamber in Washington, D.C.

Edwards, who was elected Tuesday to represent the people of Maryland's 4th Congressional District, will become the first African-American woman from Maryland to serve in the House of Representatives.

She secured 80.1 percent of the vote in Tuesday's special election to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of Al Wynn, receiving 15,381 of the 19,183 votes that were cast.

Voters exiting the polls across Maryland's 4th Congressional District yesterday cited their desire for change as the most important factor in their decision to support U.S. Rep.-elect Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) in both her successful primary and general election campaigns.

"She brings a freshness and new blood," Phyllis Widemon of Upper Marlboro told PolitickerMD.com after casting her ballot for Edwards.

Residents of Maryland's 4th Congressional District will go to the polls tomorrow to elect a new member of Congress to replace former Rep. Al Wynn (D-Mitchellville), who resigned May 31. Activist Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) and high-tech developer Peter James (R-Germantown) are the nominees of their respective party's. Edwards is considered the favorite in the heavily Democratic 4th district, which encompasses portions of Montgomery and Prince George's Counties.

Despite their status as the clear frontrunner, Edwards' Communications Director Dan Weber told PolitickerMD.com today that the campaign is taking "nothing for granted."

Weber said the campaign has made a "conscious effort" to inform voters about the dangers of assumption, fearing that such a belief will lead to low turnout, and perhaps assist James.

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.

Fourth Congressional District candidate Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) issued a statement commending Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) after he issued a proclamation declaring June 17 as the date of the special general election to fill the impending vacancy caused by the June resignation of Rep. Al Wynn (D-Mitchellville).

“I commend Gov. O'Malley for his leadership and the hard work of the delegates and senators to find a common sense approach for residents of Maryland's Fourth Congressional District to be represented in Congress,” Edwards said.

The General Assembly passed emergency legislation in the final days of the legislative session allowing the governor to bypass a special primary election, which would have cost the state an estimated $1 million.

Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) will issue a proclamation tomorrow declaring June 17 as the date of the special general election to fill the impending vacant seat in Maryland’s Fourth Congressional District.

“At a time when our families are struggling to deal with a recession and national foreclosure crisis they must have representation in the United States Congress,” O’Malley said at an afternoon press conference.

Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) and Peter James (R-Germantown), who prevailed in their party’s primary on Feb. 12 for the District 4 seat, are expected to compete against each other on June 17.

Edwards is widely expected to win in the heavily Democratic district.

Edwards defeated incumbent Rep. Al Wynn (D-Mitchellville) in the Democratic primary. On March 27, the congressman announced his intention to resign in June to join a Washington, D.C. law firm, creating the vacancy.

Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) has yet to determine when a special general election in Maryland’s 4th Congressional District will be held, according to his communications director, Rick Abbruzzese.

“He still has to make that announcement,” Abbruzzese told PolitickerMD.com, saying the governor would “continue to talk to local jurisdictions” before making a final decision.

Abbruzzese said he did not know when the governor would set a date for the election.

The General Assembly passed emergency legislation last weekend to allow O’Malley plans to bypass a special primary election and hold a special general election.

Under the new law, the governor has the right to decline a special primary, while local and state central committees shall have the power to nominate a candidate if the governor refuses a primary.

House Minority Leader Anthony J. O’Donnell (R-Lusby) called on Rep. Al Wynn (D-Mitchellville) to “fulfill his obligation” and stay in office through his current term, which is set to expire Jan. 3.

Saying it was “very important” for the residents of Maryland’s Fourth Congressional District to “have representation in the United States House of Representatives,” O’Donnell told PolitickerMD.com that a special election would cost “hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars.”

“I think we should minimize the burden on the citizens of Maryland,” O’Donnell said.