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accountability hot topics in District 5 debate Candidates Theresa Mitchell Dudley of Landover, Andrea Harrison of Springdale, Melvin Johnson of Landover, Edmonston Mayor Adam Ortiz, Derrick Parks of Springdale and Sherry James Strother of Landover attended Tuesday debate, which was sponsored by the Prince George County Young Democrats and Greater Marlboro Democratic Club and held at the James R. Cousins Municipal Center in Glenarden. Candidate Adrion Howell of Glenn Dale did not attend. The debate began with candidate introductions, followed by questions prepared by the Prince George County Young Democrats and the Greater Marlboro Democratic Club. Audience members also wrote questions on note cards that were read by moderator Gregory Huckstep of the Young Democrats. Candidates were first asked if they would repeal Tax Reform Initiative by Marylanders, an initiative that placed a property tax cap in Prince George County in 1978. A repeal would lift the cap, which leaves the potential for an increase in taxes. All six candidates said they were against a repeal because of skyrocketing housing assessments, but Dudley said she would support the repeal only if the county eliminated County Council member slate committees, what she sees as a loophole for elected officials to accept money from developers. Following the debate, Dudley said she opened her own slate committee during her 2002 District 5 council race against Harrington, but once she realized what they were being used for, she made efforts to close her account. Candidates were asked if they would use a personal credit card following the controversy of expenses made as far back as 2003 by predecessor Harrington, Councilwoman Camille Exum (D Dist. 7) of Seat Pleasant and County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D). Parks and Melvin Johnson suggested creating an Inspector General board to prevent possible fraud. However, Harrison, former District 5 County Council policy director, said the county already has an Office of Audits and Investigations and suggested increasing its autonomy. don need to create another bureaucracy, Harrison said. need to utilize what we have and make it better. a question about views on land use policies, Harrison diverted from the subject to address Ortiz claim that he reduced crime by 24 percent in Edmonston. Harrison said she noted a 40 percent increase in crime between 2004 and 2005 on the town Web site. Ortiz countered Harrison claim, stating he was not elected mayor until 2005 and before his election, the town did not keep its own crime statistics and had to rely on FBI statistics. Minutes after Harrison claims, flyers listing Edmonston crime statistics began circulating among the audience. Although Harrison later denied knowing about the flyers, she and the rest of the candidates were penalized by having to hand flyers out instead of leaving them on the table for residents to pick up since all six were asked not to hand out campaign literature during the debate. Ortiz said he saw it as mark of desperation that completely backfired. think it demonstrates more of the personal and political attacks that characterizes our government, Ortiz said. An audience member applauded Harrison for bringing the crime statistics to the crowd attention, prompting Prince George Young Democrats President Omar Boulware to ask the crowd to refrain from personal attacks or face removal. Candidates were also questioned on including more minority businesses in county economic development following a Washington Post report that said only 4 percent of businesses in the new National Harbor development were minority owned. James Strother suggested set asides for minority businesses. Dudley said 4 percent was and the project should not get another business permit before the numbers turn around. District Heights resident Mariko Bennett said she wished the candidates had more time to expand their thoughts. Bennett, a mother of three, also wished the candidates could have addressed education more during the debate.