Political Notes: Katie Curran O’Malley to lead Women’s Law Center, 3rd District and Senate endorsements, personnel news, and more

Katie Curran O’Malley will serve as the new executive director of the Women’s Law Center of Maryland.

O’Malley, a retired Baltimore City District Court judge, will lead the nonprofit organization’s work, which focuses on legal representation and legislative advocacy to support and protect women.

In a statement released Thursday, O’Malley said she’s “eager to start working with the incredible staff and Board to ensure women throughout the state have access to legal support in not only domestic violence cases, but the circumstances that surround domestic violence such as family law, employment and other areas.”

O’Malley will succeed Michelle Siri, who left the role to became executive director of the Maryland Legal Services Corp. in October.

Siri led the center during last year’s 90-day legislative session in Annapolis, advocating for various bills that include the center becoming a formal member of the Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention. Siri was also a former lieutenant governor candidate in the 2022 Democratic primary, on a ticket with former U.S. Education Secretary John B. King Jr.

As for O’Malley, she worked as an assistant state’s attorney in Baltimore County before she became a district court judge in 2001. Her father, J. Joseph Curran Jr. (D), served as a legislator, lieutenant governor and served five terms as attorney general.

After Curran O’Malley’s retirement more than two years ago, she decided to launch a bid for state attorney general in the Democratic primary against former Rep. Anthony Brown. She lost to Brown by slightly more than 10 percentage points in the 2022 primary election.

Brown served as lieutenant governor to O’Malley’s husband, former Gov. Martin O’Malley.

The former governor was confirmed last month by the U.S. Senate as the new commissioner of the Social Security Administration.

Meanwhile, Curran O’Malley will begin her new role with the law center Jan. 16.

“We are so excited to have someone with Katie’s depth of experience and passion for supporting women in Maryland as the new executive director,” Kelly Tribble Spencer, president of the center’s board of directors, said in a statement. “This is an organization that has a history of dedicated changemakers, and exceptional leaders and we are thrilled to have Katie to continue that legacy.”

U.S. Senate updates

To begin the new year, the top two Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate announced endorsements this week.

On Wednesday, Rep. David Trone (D-6th) said he has the support of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 24, headquartered in Prince George’s County, and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1200, based in Montgomery County.

“In David Trone, we see a responsive leader who supports unions and is aligned with the goals of the labor movement: fair wages, respect for workers, and job security,” IBEW Local 200 Business Manager Geoff Turner said in a statement. “He’s willing to engage with, learn from, and listen to the members of IBEW Local 1200 as we share our stories and our needs with him. We know that he’ll be our voice in the U.S. Senate, and that’s why we’re endorsing his campaign.”

Trone has received several other union endorsements, including from Ironworkers Local 568 based in Allegany County, and IBEW Local 24, which represents members in the Baltimore area and Eastern Shore.

“Labor organizations from around the state are endorsing my campaign for U.S. Senate because they know that it’s just as much about them as it is about me,” Trone said in a statement. “I’ll be their voice in Washington, advocating for their needs and engaging with them every step of the way.”

On Thursday, the campaign of Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced support from four fellow Democratic elected officials from Baltimore: state Sen. Cory McCray, Del. Jackie Addison and city councilmembers Antonio Glover and Danielle McCray. The McCrays are siblings.

“County Executive Alsobrooks has been a leader in building up Prince George’s County infrastructure from the public schools to public facilities along their Blue Line Corridor transit line, and she understands the education and transportation infrastructure needs of Baltimore City,” Addison said in a statement. “Angela is a compassionate leader who knows what she’s fighting for, and that’s why I’ll fight to make sure she’s our next U.S. Senator.”

The Alsobrooks campaign touts more than 140 endorsements, including Gov. Wes Moore (D), several members of the state’s Congressional delegation, the General Assembly’s presiding officers and this week’s support from Baltimore officials.

“I am honored to receive the endorsement and support of these impactful East Baltimore leaders who work so hard, not only on behalf of Baltimoreans but all Marylanders,” Alsobrooks said. “I will fight so that all women have the right to choose what to do with their body, that all Americans have access to the ballot box, and that each of us can afford to care for our families on one job, and I believe together we can make that a reality.”

Meanwhile, the state Board of Elections website shows Democratic candidate Juan Dominguez withdrew his candidacy Wednesday. He participated in a forum last month alongside Trone and Alsobrooks.

Literally a big endorsement

In the crowded race to replace U.S. Rep. John P. Sarbanes (D-3rd), state Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth (D-Anne Arundel) picked up a big endorsement Friday, from former U.S. Rep. Tom McMillen (D-Md.), who represented part of the district where Elfreth is now running.

In addition to representing Maryland’s old 4th District, which took in parts of Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties, from 1987 to 1993, McMillen is well-known as a former star basketball player at the University of Maryland who had a long career in the NBA. Standing at 6-foot-11, he remains a regular — and literally high-profile — presence at Maryland Democratic and civic events.

“I’ve worked with Sarah since we served together on the University System Board of Regents, and she is a proven leader who has dedicated her career to serving others,” McMillen said in a statement provided by the Elfreth campaign. “No one understands this district’s needs better, and no one will work harder to solve big problems. Too many politicians in Washington are concerned about their cable news appearances and social media profiles — we need more people like Sarah who focus on getting the job done for the people she serves.”

More personnel news

— Gov. Wes Moore (D) has tapped a prominent regional labor leader to join his administration as senior director of labor relations.

Dyana Forester comes to Annapolis after spending more than three years as president of the Metropolitan Washington Labor Council, AFL-CIO. In her new role, the administration said, Forester will represent the governor in labor relations activities within the executive branch, along with the Maryland Department of Budget and Management, the Maryland Department of Labor, and exclusive representatives of the state’s bargaining unit employees. She will direct various collective bargaining activities, including negotiations and labor-management initiatives, and will advise the governor on labor relations matters affecting Maryland’s workforce.

“Dyana has served on the front lines of the labor movement for decades. I am grateful that she has chosen to continue that work in our administration,” Moore said in a statement. “If we want to be Maryland Strong, we need to be Union Strong. Diana recognizes that vision, and she will work with us to make it a reality.”

Forester, who also served as the director of political and community affairs for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 400, will assume her new role on Jan. 10.

–AARP Maryland, the powerhouse advocacy group, has a new state president.

Howard County resident David R. Conway took over on Jan. 1, replacing Jim Campbell, the former state delegate who held the title for almost six years. Conway will help shape AARP’s strategic priorities, build community partnerships, and serve as AARP’s principal volunteer spokesperson in Maryland.

Prior to his retirement in 2017, Conway spent 43 years in surgical device sales for three major companies and two start-ups, including 23 years in senior management positions.

Conway joined the AARP Maryland Executive Council in 2019.

“Over the past five years, David has been a trusted advisor and respected volunteer leader at AARP Maryland,” said Hank Greenberg, AARP Maryland state director. “He fully embraces our mission and brings a wealth of experience in team development that will be of great value to AARP as we strategically build out and prepare volunteers throughout the state to improve and enhance the lives of the 50 plus and their families.”

–A top official from the past two gubernatorial administrations is joining a Baltimore law firm, where he will help to jump-start its government affairs practice.

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP announced this week that Owen P. McEvoy will be of counsel to the firm’s Baltimore office, focusing on government relations and affordable housing.

McEvoy has more than 13 years of experience in state and local government, much of it in the real estate, real estate financing and affordable housing spaces. He served as deputy secretary at the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development under both Gov. Wes Moore (D) and former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and also was a top communications staffer for former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett (R) and former Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh (R). He also worked in the Ehrlich administration.

A full House

The House of Delegates will have all 141 members when the session begins at 12 p.m. Wednesday once Denise Roberts gets sworn into office Monday morning.

Roberts, who worked as communications director for Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy (D), will represent the county’s 25th legislative district. The area includes Largo, Suitland and portions of Upper Marlboro.

Roberts was selected by the majority of the county’s Democratic Central Committee to fill the vacant seat to replace now state Sen. Nick Charles (D-Prince George’s).

Roberts’ two 25th District colleagues will be Dels. Karen Toles and Kent Roberson, who were also appointed to their seats in January 2022 and last year, respectively.

The District 25 team will hold a pre-session priorities discussion at 7 p.m. Monday at Bishop McNamara High School.

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