Prince George’s County Republican voters will head to the polls Aug. 6 to nominate a candidate for the vacant at-large county council seat.

The special election comes after at-large council member Mel Franklin resigned from his seat on June 14. Six days later, he was charged with multiple counts of perjury, embezzlement and felony theft scheme in the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court

Four Prince George’s County Republicans are competing for the nomination to complete the remaining two years of Franklin’s term on the entirely Democratic county council.

The winner of the Aug. 6 special primary will face a tough contest during November’s general election in the overwhelmingly Democratic county.

Here is a look at the Republican candidates for the at-large seat. Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name.

Read more about the Democratic candidates here.

Kamita Gray

Brandywine resident Kamita Gray told The Diamondback she would prioritize livable communities, health, welfare and public safety as a county council member.

In an email to The Diamondback, Gray said she also hopes to enhance transportation infrastructure in the county, address poor air quality and reduce response times for county police and firefighters.

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If elected, Gray said she hopes to increase community engagement in addressing these issues.

“[Residents] have been left out of the process and do not have a voice in what’s going on with the community,” Gray said. “Government should work for and with community.”

Michael Riker

Michael Riker — a Cheltenham resident — is a retired police officer who spent more than 20 years with Prince George’s County Police and three years with the Capitol Police in Washington, D.C.

“I’m not a politician,” Riker said. “I’m more of a people person.”

As a county council member, Riker said he would address law enforcement shortages in the county by hiring more police officers, firefighters and emergency responders.

Police officers in the county are overworked and understaffed, Riker said.

He also emphasized that the county needs to balance its budget and address the “top-heavy” education budget.

Isaac Toyos

Isaac Toyos is a U.S. Army veteran and legislative affairs contractor for the federal government.

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Toyos also serves on the board of directors for the Cherry Hill Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization that aids low-income, underserved communities.

Toyos, who was raised in Puerto Rico, said he would be a voice for Latino residents in the county.

“I would be the voice… for a population that I feel has been underserved over the last few years,” Toyos, a Temple Hills resident, said.

Toyos told The Diamondback he will focus on an affordability and accountability candidacy in the county. He hopes to increase disability benefits for veterans, prioritize public safety and prevent illegal dumping in the county.

Jonathan White

Jonathan White, a retired veteran who lives in Upper Marlboro, said he decided to run for the vacant seat because of a lack of progress in the county.

Crime and property taxes in the county are getting “out of hand,” White said.

White, who worked at the U.S. state department for 10 years, plans to focus on zoning to prevent developers from “taking over” the county and pricing out longtime residents.

He also plans to prioritize infrastructure, small business growth, school funding and public safety.

“I want a safe community,” White said. “That’s all just the bare minimum.”

White previously competed in the 2022 Democratic primary for at-large county council member, which Franklin and Calvin Hawkins II won.