Two friends back different candidates in contentious 4th District race

MITCHELLVILLE - They stand on opposite sides of a political warzone here in the 4th Congressional District, but when the shelling is over tonight and either U.S. Rep. Al Wynn or Donna Edwards emerges victorious, Carolyn J.B. Howard and Linda Thomas will still be part of the same family, they say.

Howard, a delegate in the 24th district and deputy speaker pro tempore, proudly supports the eight-term veteran Wynn.

"I’ve worked with him for a long time, and I’ve always found him to be very responsive," said Howard, campaigning for the Democratic congressman outside Kingsford Elementary School this morning. "This precinct is going to carry him, and the reason for that is we know him here."

Thomas, a member of the Prince George’s County Board of Education, has a very different impression of Wynn, whom she’s found aloof.

In a hard-fought board of education race, Thomas found herself waving signs atop mounds of dirt outside the local Wal-Mart and questioning whether she was getting her message out, at around the same time she met Edwards, the young attorney and activist who showed interest in her views and listened with what Thomas said was "real caring."

"It’s all about what’s in here," said Thomas, holding her hand to her heart. "And that’s Donna."

Wynn, on the other hand, was missing in action, according to the school board member. "He never talked to me," said Thomas, "even though his mother used to tutor at my school."

Only when she got elected did she begin receiving what she describes as "little notes" from Wynn, which weren’t enough to win her over. In Mitchellville this morning, as her old friend Howard plugged for Wynn, Thomas just as vigorously pumped hands for Edwards.

Howard said she believes people unfairly bad mouth the congressman. "What they have to do is look at the record, and realize they’re not going to be satisfied with every vote," she said. "But he’s brought a lot of resources back to this district, and I don’t care what anyone says, his constituent services have been excellent."

Another mass of voters trudged toward them on their way into the polls, and each woman - antagonists for a campaign cycle, at least - playfully acknowledged the presence of the other as they jockeyed for attention on Election Day.