Hyattsville Council Member Voting for Two

For a second week in a row,  was present at a Hyattsville City Council meeting. And now she's voting for two. Hinds-Mofor is pregnant with her first child. 

"It feels great" to be back, Hinds-Mofor said following Monday's Council meeting. "For the most part I feel caught up."

Hinds-Mofor's reappearance in the Council chambers on Gallatin Street two weeks ago snapped a three-month absent streak where she missed 14 Council or community meetings and public hearings held on 10 separate days. The absences occurred during a time when Council members became sharply divided over certain aspects of the budget.

But so far, the exact reason for her absence isn't clear. Throughout the meetings that Hinds-Mofor missed, Mayor Tartaro would usually offer a brief explanation citing some medical malady. Since her return, Hinds-Mofor has not offered much in the way of details about her absence other than pointing out that she is now pregnant. 

Hinds-Mofor would not say where she had been during her absence. She also declined to say why she required medical leave from her duties, nor would she elaborate on any symptoms which she experienced. 

"I had a lot of symptoms actually," said Hinds-Mofor. "I'd rather not get into them. Some of them were of a female nature."

Though she is married, Hinds-Mofor declined to disclose her husband's first name to this reporter.

Hinds-Mofor's attendance was at times a source of open speculation among Council members. 

Members asked to comment for this story all said they were in the dark about any specified reason for Hinds-Mofor's absences. 

Hinds-Mofor was not unrivaled in her absences over the last three months. In that same time, Councilor Carlos Lizanne (Ward 4) was absent from seven Council meetings, community meetings or public hearings held on five separate days. Lizanne's absences were the result of international travel to his home country of El Salvador to visit relatives.