Residents of Prince George’s County Council District 6 said they hope they will be better represented in the county if Councilwoman Leslie E. Johnson (D) steps down or is removed from her position after she pleaded guilty Thursday morning to charges of witness- and evidence-tampering.

“She’s been stripped of her duties on the council,” said Sandra Pruitt, a Mitchellville resident and leader of People for Change, a community activist group. “We’ve not been given full representation.”

Since she was charged in March, the council voted to withhold Johnson’s voting rights in the four committees that amend legislation.

Other council members agreed to pick up the slack but have failed to do so, Pruitt said.

“They should be helping us with things Leslie cannot,” she said, adding that two recently foreclosed golf courses in District 6 should have merited action by other council members.

“If she can’t do it, then somebody else needs to on our behalf,” Pruitt said.

Council members could not be reached for comment Thursday.

County law requires that Johnson vacate her office once she begins her sentence, and state law allows the governor to remove an elected official who is convicted or pleads guilty to a crime.

If Johnson leaves office, a special primary and general election would be held. Four other Democrats lost to Johnson in the November election.

Frederick Hall, a Lake Arbor resident, voted for Johnson in the November election but said the community’s needs are not met when its council member does not have full voting rights.

“We’re not getting someone on our side,” he said.

Michelle Finney of Kettering said Johnson should have given up her seat before now.

“People are very upset about her arrogance about not wanting to step aside,” Finney said. “We have no voice; we have no say.”

Cindy Williams, who lives in Spring Meadows, a Bowie neighborhood that falls in District 6, agreed that Johnson should resign, in part because her guilty plea makes her not credible with residents.

“She can’t represent us,” Williams said. “Her word to me would not mean a thing.”

Staff Writer Ginny Terhune contributed to this report.

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