State delegate and 2016 Congressional candidate Joseline Peña-Melnyk has decided to locate her campaign offices on Main Street in Laurel, a decision she said was made based on the city's central location at the convergence of Prince George's and Anne Arundel counties.
Peña-Melnyk, a Democrat, is running to succeed Rep. Donna Edwards, another Democrat, who has represented the fourth district of Maryland in the House of Representatives since 2008.
Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey and former Lieutenant Gov. Anthony Brown, both Democrats, are also making a bid for the seat, as are Democrats Warren Christopher, Terence Strait and Ingrid Turner, and Republican George McDermott.
Peña-Melnyk has set up her headquarters at 344 Main St., in a building that formerly housed The Gallery, a framing shop across the street from the Laurel Meat Market.
"I have been representing the Laurel community for nine years and have a lot of support, and I thought it was a great location to open the office right here, where people from both ends of the county can meet," Peña-Melnyk, who is currently a state delegate from District 21, said.
Peña-Melnyk's husband, Markian Melnyk, is holding a public birthday party for his wife at the headquarters June 27 from noon to 2 p.m. In the meantime, the candidate and volunteers are already hard at work in the office, where the windows and walls are posted with campaign signs.
Tuesday, Peña-Melnyk was busy phone banking in the Laurel office.
"I'm already running," she said.
A primary election in the district is scheduled for April 26 of next year.