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Rally With a Retirement Twist
J. Joseph Curran Jr. said he wanted to retire while people would still ask, " 'Why did you leave too soon?' "
(By Gail Burton -- Associated Press)
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"J. Joseph Curran Jr. has been in public service for nearly fifty years as an air force pilot, state lawmaker, Lt. Governor, and Attorney General," Ehrlich said in a statement. "I commend him for dedicating nearly a half century to serving the citizens of Maryland."
Comptroller William Donald Schaefer (D) -- a former governor, mayor of Baltimore and, at age 84, the dean of Maryland politicians -- added his own salute: "I want to wish Joe all the best during his retirement and thank him for his many years of dedicated and principled service to the people and government of Maryland.
"But for the life of me, I can't understand why such a young man would want to call it quits this early in his career."
Curran reflected yesterday on a career that took him from night classes at the University of Baltimore School of Law to his election to the House of Delegates in 1958, the Maryland Senate in 1962 and lieutenant governor in 1982. In 1986, he was elected attorney general.
"This is the greatest job any lawyer could have," he said. "The attorney general's office is where it happens."
Curran said yesterday that his decision to retire had nothing to do with a possible conflict if O'Malley were elected governor and Curran, as attorney general, had to rule on legal issues involving his son-in-law. "There never would have been a conflict," Curran said. "Martin is a man of impeccable integrity."
O'Malley, his wife, Catherine Curran O'Malley -- a Baltimore District Court judge -- and their children were among family members and well-wishers who surrounded and hugged Curran after his announcement.
Curran said he would remain active in private law practice and might write a book about his life in Maryland politics and experiences with political figures, large and small. The story, Curran said, would relate "whatever really happened in that other century."
