Two sitting Prince George’s County Council members threw their support Monday behind Democrat Arthur Turner in his bid to fill the council’s vacant District 6 seat.

In what Turner called a “tremendous display of support,” Council Chairwoman Ingrid M. Turner (D-Dist. 4) of Bowie, who is not related to the candidate, and Councilwoman Karen R. Toles (D-Dist. 7) of Suitland, along with several other state and county leaders joined Arthur Turner in waving campaign signs Monday morning at 11 locations around District 6, said Terry Speigner, Turner’s campaign manager.

“There are people who appreciate the work I’ve done over the years,” said Turner, a community activist and county liquor inspector from Kettering.

In the special primary election Tuesday, voters will choose the Democratic candidate who will run in the Oct. 18 special general election to fill the seat vacated by Leslie E. Johnson, who resigned in July after pleading guilty to a federal corruption charge. Arthur Turner was among four Democrats who lost to Johnson in the fall primary election.

District 6 includes Capitol Heights, District Heights, Forestville, Kettering, Largo, Mitchellville, Upper Marlboro and parts of Bowie.

Del. Melony Griffith (D-Dist. 25) of Upper Marlboro cited Turner’s stick-to-it-tiveness and his involvement in efforts to bring a state or federal agency and jobs to the county as reasons she is supporting him.

“Arthur Turner on the County Council will help move those projects from vision to fruition,” said Griffith, who personally donated $150 to Turner’s campaign.

Del. Michael Vaughn (D-Dist. 24) of Mitchellville, Del. Carolyn J.B. Howard (D-Dist. 24) of Mitchellville, former District 6 Councilman Sam Dean (D) of Mitchellville, and former county Clerk of Court Peggy Magee of Upper Marlboro also endorsed Turner on Monday.

“When I saw there was a candidate with Arthur Turner’s integrity, compassion and proven leadership, I couldn’t keep quiet,” said Howard, whose campaign committee donated $500 to Turner’s campaign.

Term limits prevented Dean from running again for the District 6 seat in 2010, when he ran instead for county executive, eventually losing to Rushern L. Baker III.

The endorsements show “Mr. Turner has significant, broad-based support from residents, civic leaders and also elected officials,” Speigner said.

“It shows that people who really understand the roles and responsibilities of the council member from District 6 believe Mr. Turner can do the job.”

Turner faces 13 other Democrats: Venus Bethea, Van Caldwell, Thirl Crudup, Derrick Leon Davis, Wanda Dixon McKnight Esther Hankerson, Wayne Lynwood Leach II, Cassandra Lewis, Margaret Okoroji-Schaeffer, Christine Osei, Mark Polk, Brad Donnie Ray and Sherine Taylor.

The winner of this month’s special election will face Republican Day Gardner in the special general election next month.

abrownback@gazette.net