Candidate

A peace order between two Democratic candidates for the House of Delegates District 27A seat was denied on Sunday because it could not meet the required burden of proof. Yonelle Moore Lee of Waldorf filed a petition for a peace order on Sunday against Shawn Maldon of Clinton for harassment, stalking and assault, according to court documents. Moore Lee wanted Maldon to be ordered to not threaten, contact or go to the schools or Charles board of education, of which Moore is a member. “Every time I saw him at a forum, he would make a rude or sarcastic remark to try to get a response,” Moore Lee wrote in the petition. “He would typically say something when he was right next to me and when no one else could hear it.” Moore Lee also requested that Maldon would “stay away” from the Waldorf Jaycees, which was one of three early voting centers in Charles County, and to remain at least 100 feet away, the petition said. “I have always felt uncomfortable around him and did my best to avoid him,” she wrote. “He always seemed to enjoy making me uncomfortable.” Moore Lee told Southern Maryland News on Wednesday that she had spoken to the Charles board of elections and nothing else could be done. Also, Moore Lee's husband, Jonathan Lee Sr., filed a separate peace order against Maldon that was also denied. On June 11, Jonathan Lee said his wife asked him to speak to Maldon, according to his peace order petition. When Jonathan Lee asked Maldon to stop talking to his wife, Maldon allegedly cut off Jonathan Lee and said, “Get your hands out my face. This conversation is done.” As Maldon was walking away, he allegedly fell over a curb. The petition for a peace order between Jonathan Lee and Maldon was denied by a court commissioner because there was "no reasonable grounds to believe [Maldon] committed a prohibited act." Maldon said in a social media post he was assaulted on Sunday while he was at the Waldorf Jaycees. “The worst part of it … is the request to the judge that I not be allowed to go to the highest voter turn out polls,” he wrote in the post. “We need to send someone to Annapolis who is going to be honest.” When contacted this week for comment on the denied peace orders, Maldon told Southern Maryland News, "It speaks for itself," and added that he did not have any other comment. From July 2018 to January 2021, while Maldon was mayor of the town of Capitol Heights, Maldon refused, neglected or failed to execute the office of mayor by refusing to provide the town council with information regarding the town's business and other meetings, according to a resolution to temporarily suspend him. Maldon repeatedly engaged in "intimidation and bullying" of council members, according to the resolution. The winner of the Democratic primary for District 27A, which in addition to Lee and Maldon includes Clifton Crosby Jr. and incumbent Darrell C. Odom Sr., will face Republican Jim Crawford in November's general election. Early voting for the primary was from June 11 to 18 and Election Day is Tuesday, June 23.