Candidate for Lieutenant Governor Cites Immigrant Roots in Speech

House Majority Whip Anthony G. Brown , a rising star in the state Democratic Party, officially accepted Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley's offer to join his gubernatorial ticket as his running mate this week.

Brown addressed about 200 sign-waving supporters during an announcement Monday at Newton White Mansion in Mitchellville, Brown's hometown.

"I am proud to stand with you and accept your offer to serve as Maryland's next lieutenant governor and to serve as your partner when you, Martin O'Malley, become the next governor of the state of Maryland," said Brown, 44, to an audience that included his family and several colleagues from the county's legislative delegation.

O'Malley described Brown, a Harvard-educated lawyer and a colonel in the U.S. Army, as a hard-working and self-disciplined consensus-builder with a knack for "bringing people together to get things done -- a talent sorely missed in our state today."

Brown brings racial and geographic balance to O'Malley's ticket. As a leader in the House, he also brings a wealth of legislative experience.

Realizing that he may be relatively unknown in some parts of the state, Brown introduced himself as a "new face with some old-fashioned values" that were instilled in him by his immigrant parents. He said his father grew up in Jamaica and his mother was born in the foothills of the Swiss Alps. "I am so thankful and reminded more than ever, only in America would the son of immigrants have this opportunity to serve," Brown said.

He described his wife, Patricia , and children, Rebecca and Jonatha n , as "my foundation and my future."

During the campaign, Brown will concentrate on higher education, pushing to make college affordable for working families.

Among those attending the announcement were Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Prince George's), who introduced O'Malley and described the ticket as a "powerful partnership"; Derrick Green , Adrion Howell , Aisha Braveboy and Keith Washington , members of the Johnson administration; and Dels. Michael L. Vaughn , Dereck E. Davis , Joanne C. Benson , Veronica L. Turner , James E. Proctor Jr. and former colleague Rushern L. Baker III , who is running for county executive.

Another African Journey

County Executive Jack B. Johnson has headed overseas -- again.

He left Monday for a week-long trip to Gambia, in West Africa.

The purpose of the trip is to celebrate the completion of a house constructed through a partnership between the Gambian government and a Prince George's County company.