On Saturday, October 22 Todd Turner, who has been Greenbelt’s representative to Prince George’s County Council since 2014, resigned. Turner stepped down after being nominated for the position of executive director of the Office of Ethics and Accountability (OEA) by County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, an appointment that the council would vote upon. On Monday, October 24, Turner was confirmed and will begin his new role on December 5.
Turner was not planning to run for re-election next month and Ingrid Harrison (D) is running unopposed to represent District 4. Newly-elected councilmembers will begin their terms on the first Monday in December following the election. In the meantime, it’s unclear who – if anyone – will represent District 4 in coming weeks. County council staff directed inquiries about current and interim representation to Turner’s Council Office, where a representative said they were unable to provide any information.
Turner’s appointment to lead the OEA is a controversial one. On October 22, the Washington Post reported concerns that Alsobrooks was attempting to install a moderate political ally in the non-partisan position ahead of what is expected to be a more liberal council after the coming election and that the appointment of a longtime politician to lead oversight of his political friends and foes was drawing scrutiny. The Post quoted Councilmember Edward Burroughs III (D-District 8), who stated the appointment would discourage citizens from filing complaints and damage the credibility of the office, and Councilmember Jolene Ivey (D-District 5), who likened it to a fox guarding the henhouse (Pr. George’s Council Member’s Appointment to Watchdog Role Draws Scrutiny, Washington Post, October 22, 2022).