Council vote ends mayor’s term; mayor disputes charges and vows to run again
The New Carrollton City Council voted 4–1 Wednesday evening to remove Mayor Phelecia E. Nembhard from office after a tense meeting that drew supporters, accusations and police intervention. The move came amid allegations that the mayor authorized the hiring or reinstatement of two employees during a council-imposed hiring freeze and attempted to intimidate city staff.
The council’s action effectively ends Nembhard’s current term and sets in motion a special election to fill the office. Nembhard has publicly disputed the council’s claims and told reporters she intends to seek the mayor’s office again.
- Vote: 4–1 to remove Mayor Nembhard.
- Allegations: Reinstating or hiring two employees during a hiring freeze and intimidating staff.
- Immediate aftermath: A supporter of the mayor was escorted out by police during the meeting; the council described the evidence as decisive.
What the council says
Council members say the dispute centered on whether Nembhard reinstated or otherwise hired two employees after the council had enacted a hiring freeze. One councilmember told local reporters that the evidence speaks for itself and that the city manager resigned because the actions were unlawful.
"The evidence speaks for itself," a councilmember said, according to reporting from FOX 5.
The council also received allegations that the mayor attempted to intimidate city staff. Those claims contributed to the motion to remove Nembhard from office and the subsequent vote.
What Mayor Nembhard says
Nembhard disputes the council’s account. She told reporters she had informed the council of a reinstatement and said one of the matters involved filing a grievance to ensure an employee returned to work after that person had apparently filed a grievance over their termination. She described the council as "corrupt" and defended her actions as lawful and necessary.
Nembhard also declared she will run in the special election triggered by the council’s decision. The council disagreed about whether she is eligible to run, but Nembhard has maintained she can seek the office again.
How the meeting unfolded
The meeting grew heated as residents and supporters attended in large numbers. At one point, police escorted a supporter of the mayor from the chambers. The tenor of the meeting — public anger, council accusations and the resignation of a senior city official — left officials and residents debating both process and politics.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Council vote | 4–1 in favor of removal |
| Main allegation | Reinstatement/hiring of two employees during a hiring freeze |
| Other allegation | Attempted intimidation of city staff |
| Mayor’s response | Denies wrongdoing; says she will run in special election |
What this means for residents
For New Carrollton voters, the council’s decision ends Nembhard’s current term and will require a special election to choose her replacement. The council’s handling of personnel matters — and the resignation of the city manager referenced by council members — raises questions about how city operations will proceed in the near term.
For nearby communities, including Carrollton readers who follow municipal governance across the country, the episode is a reminder of how quickly personnel disputes can escalate into leadership crises at the local level. The council said the hiring freeze had been in place for months, a context that shaped their view of the mayor’s actions.
Officials have not released a detailed timeline for the special election or an official explanation of the city manager’s resignation beyond the statements referenced at the meeting. Reporting agencies say the information comes from council members and on-the-record comments from the mayor.
The removal will likely keep New Carrollton in the headlines until the special election is set and candidates declare their intentions. Nembhard’s pledge to run again guarantees a contested race and continued scrutiny of the decisions that led to her ouster.
Local and regional media continue to follow the story; NEXO RADAR will provide updates as the city posts formal notices about the special election and any administrative changes while the mayor’s seat is vacant.
