New Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker vowed Monday that his administration would be the most ethical in the Washington region, a proclamation made within several feet of a trio charged with felonies -- his predecessor, a new County Council member and an official tasked with delivering the oath of office.
"We are here to celebrate a new day in Prince George's County," Baker said during a frigid inauguration ceremony in Upper Marlboro, his first step in a lengthy process of trying to restore confidence in the suburb's public officials. "We must provide an open, efficient and transparent government."
However, County Executive Jack Johnson wore an ankle monitor just one row behind Baker as he sat next to his wife, newly sworn-in Councilwoman Leslie Johnson -- who FBI agents say stuffed nearly $80,000 in her bra when authorities searched the couple's Mitchellville home just a few weeks ago.
And Circuit Court Clerk Marilynn Bland swore in council members despite recent charges of assaulting a county employee.
| Why Councilwoman Leslie Johnson was sworn in |
| The Prince George's County Charter prevents council members from serving only if they are physically or mentally unable to perform their jobs. State law would force her to step down if she is convicted of a felony. The council will decide leadership positions and determine committee assignments Tuesday. |
The image, some observers say, is a reminder of the albatross that will hang around Baker as tries to make Prince George's the self-proclaimed "gold standard and envy of other communities."
"This entire thing kind of feels surreal, doesn't it?," said one high-ranking county official who asked to remain anonymous because he didn't want alienate the new administration. "It's all smiles, but a picture speaks a thousand words. How many alleged felons did you see up there on the stage today?"
The subtext didn't keep away many of the region's marquee political players. D.C. Mayor-Elect Vincent Gray attended the event, as did Councilman Marion Barry, D-Ward 8 -- Johnson waived to the often-embattled D.C. lawmaker as he left the stage; Maryland Sen. Benjamin Cardin; Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown; Attorney General Doug Gansler; and U.S. Reps. Chris Van Hollen and Donna Edwards.
The Johnsons were led away from their home in handcuffs nearly a month ago and charged with tampering and destruction of evidence. Federal investigators say they heard Johnson on a wiretap telling his wife to flush a $100,000 check from a developer down the toilet and hide another $79,600 in cash as agents knocked on the front door.
Elected officials took their oaths in front of a gargantuan American flag, and police officers played bagpipes in what looked like another routine inauguration ceremony, at least on the surface. But when Leslie Johnson swore to uphold county laws, there were scattered laughs in the mostly friendly crowd.
While Baker never referenced Jack Johnson directly, he made some not-so-veiled references to the cronyism that sparked the corruption probe.
"Our philosophy will not be that you know somebody," he said of awarding development contracts. And speaking to public safety officials, he said, "Anybody who violates that sacred trust, you want out of your ranks."
Three police officers were charged in the ongoing federal investigation, and dozens more face allegations of wrongdoing.
But Baker has faced questions of his own about misusing public trust.
As The Washington Examiner first reported, Baker's nonprofit, Community Teachers Institute Inc., spent more than four times as much on payroll, taxes and benefits than teachers and students in 2008 -- including Baker's $102,000 annual salary.
The numbers were revealed only after investigators were sent to the office of the Landover nonprofit.
The inauguration ceremony was a rare public appearance for Jack Johnson, who has maintained a low profile since his arrest put an unwanted spotlight on the nation's most affluent majority black county.
"This was a great event," Johnson told The Examiner before refusing to answer questions about his wife or his arrest. "This is a day for celebration."
