Prince George’s Council names auditor hours before election

The Prince George’s County Council appointed a new county auditor on Monday, November 2, just 24 hours before the General Election. The council voted 6-1 to name Marcel Emerson to the post. This decision reverses a temporary hold on the appointment that council members had imposed earlier in the week.

The vote took place during a virtual meeting announced by email only 40 minutes before it was scheduled to start. The session began 35 minutes behind schedule. Three council members were absent from the meeting, and a third member abstained from voting. The remaining six members approved Emerson’s appointment.

Emerson currently serves as a financial controller for a New York City-based acquisition holding company. He previously worked as an account manager for Prince George’s Community College. Emerson was not available for comment immediately following the vote. Council Chair Krystal Oriadha had initially announced the appointment on October 23, following a unanimous closed-session vote on October 20.

Council member Jolene Ivey cast the sole dissenting vote. She argued that the council violated state law by failing to provide proper notice for the meeting. Ivey stated that she learned about the gathering only 40 minutes prior. She contended that the Open Meetings Act permits short notice only for truly urgent matters. She noted that the auditor position had been vacant for a year, making the rush to fill it questionable.

Her colleagues disagreed with her assessment of the timing. Council member Tim Adams described the situation as an emergency. He stated that the body has a responsibility to ensure an auditor is in place. Ivey also raised a concern regarding a potential conflict of interest. She alleged that Emerson is friends with council member Edward Burroughs. She said she could not support a candidate with such a connection.

Several members interrupted to challenge Ivey’s claim. Council member Tom Dernoga said Ivey had not provided evidence to substantiate her allegation. Ivey attributed her information to intelligence from people who know both parties. Burroughs, who did not attend the meeting, called the claim false in an interview. He said he knows all three finalists for the position but does not consider any of them a friend. He explained that he chose not to attend to avoid having his presence used as a point of contention.

The appointment occurs while the Office of Audits and Investigations examines millions in public dollars awarded to Community on the Frontline. That local organization is led by a close friend of Council Chair Oriadha. Separately, Ivey and council member Sydney Harrison have called for audits of Community on the Frontline and Joan’s House. Joan’s House is a nonprofit with close ties to Burroughs.

The council had previously scheduled a public vote on Emerson’s appointment for October 26. Lawmakers quietly removed the item from the agenda before that meeting. The 2026 legislative session ended the next day without further discussion. Oriadha said at a press conference last week that the delay allowed for due diligence review. She described an earlier appointment letter as having been added to the agenda prematurely.