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New Carrollton City Council Votes 4-1 to Remove Mayor Phelecia Nembhard

September 11, 2026

New Carrollton's City Council voted 4-1 to remove Mayor Phelecia Nembhard from office over allegations she violated the city's hiring freeze by bringing back former employees. Nembhard, who made history as the city's first African American, Caribbean American, and female mayor when elected in 2020, received strong support from residents during the contentious September 9 hearing. Council members who voted for removal claim she attempted to intimidate staff and ignored warnings that her hiring actions were unlawful, with one councilmember stating nobody is above the law.

Who is affected

  • Mayor Phelecia Nembhard (removed from office)
  • The four council members who voted to remove her: Lincoln Lashley, Agnelli Sybel Malave, Duane Rosenberg, and Briana Urbina
  • Councilmember Cynthia Mills (voted to retain the mayor)
  • New Carrollton residents and Nembhard supporters
  • The former city manager (who resigned)
  • Former employees Nembhard allegedly attempted to reinstate
  • City staff members who were allegedly intimidated
  • Lincoln Lashley (serving as interim mayor)
  • Millie Tracy (supporter mobilizing for the special election)

What action is being taken

  • Lincoln Lashley is serving as interim mayor
  • Millie Tracy is mobilizing supporters via social media for the upcoming special election
  • Nembhard plans to file for the special election

Why it matters

  • This matters because it removes a historic mayor who broke multiple barriers as the first African American, Caribbean American, and woman to lead New Carrollton. The removal creates political instability in a city undergoing significant development, particularly regarding the Purple Line transit project, where Nembhard had cultivated important relationships with developers and secured grants for the town. The controversy highlights tensions around executive authority, accountability, and procedural rules, while the dispute over Nembhard's eligibility to run in the special election could trigger further legal and political conflicts.

What's next

  • A special election must be held within 65 days of the mayoral vacancy
  • Nembhard plans to file for the special election (though the city council maintains she is not eligible)

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer