New Carrollton's city council voted 4-1 on Wednesday night to force Mayor Phelecia Nembhard out of office, invoking a charter provision over an alleged breach of a council-imposed hiring freeze involving the reinstatement of two former employees. The packed, tense meeting at the New Carrollton Municipal Center ended with police removing a supporter wearing a Nembhard campaign shirt after she accused council members of corruption, capping a night that saw more than a dozen residents speak up in the mayor's defense.
The council's action cited a city-charter provision after allegations that Nembhard violated an October 2025 hiring freeze the council had approved to address budget constraints, according to the City of New Carrollton. Mayor Pro Tem Lincoln Lashley confirmed the outcome in an official city statement Thursday, saying the council voted 4-1 to remove Nembhard after formally weighing her hiring practices, per the City of New Carrollton.
Speaking after the vote, Nembhard told FOX 5 DC she plans to run for mayor again if a special election is scheduled. The former mayor has denied violating the hiring freeze, according to reporting from The Baltimore Banner, which also detailed the chaotic scene inside the municipal center as officers escorted out the shouting supporter.
What Triggered the Forfeiture Fight
The dispute traces back to allegations that Nembhard attempted to hire or reinstate two employees after a hiring freeze, an allegation WUSA9 detailed in its coverage of the ouster. Council members have argued that existing hiring procedures already covered the city's staffing needs, making the mayor's independent move outside the rules.
Internal communications obtained by the station reportedly show Nembhard accepting sole responsibility, in an email, for reinstating the city's public works director. A separate resignation letter from the former city manager, also cited in that reporting, described Nembhard as an active participant in administrative decisions. Council members have pointed to those documents as evidence she circumvented established protocols.
Residents Question Whether the Council Had the Authority
Not everyone in New Carrollton accepts the council's read of the charter. Residents have questioned the panel's legal standing. Critics argue the decision should have been left in front of voters rather than the council itself.
The forfeiture maneuver itself has drawn attention. Reporting has detailed the council's ouster of a sitting mayor through charter forfeiture.
A Historic Tenure Now in Limbo
Nembhard made history in New Carrollton, becoming the city's first female and first Black mayor after previously serving as council chair from 2018 to 2020. She won reelection as mayor in 2025, according to a report from Jamaicans.com. During Wednesday's meeting, long-time residents credited her with food distribution programs and community engagement work as they urged the council to reconsider.
New Carrollton is a Prince George's County city. A special election was being discussed, and Nembhard has already signaled she intends to be on that ballot.
