Miller hints at retirement

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010

ANNAPOLIS — Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. signaled last month that his next four-year term — presuming he wins re-election this fall — will be his last.

The comments came during a meeting of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland. The audience at the Loews Hotel Annapolis included Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) and several cabinet secretaries.

"I've been involved with nine governors since I've been here in the state," said Miller (D-Calvert, Prince George's). "It started with Spiro T. Agnew and finishing up with Martin O'Malley. He's going to be my last one that I'll be working with as an elected official."

After the meeting, Miller backed off his pronouncement, saying only that he anticipates both he and O'Malley (D) will win their respective races in the fall. Any firm decision about his political future will come later, he said.

Calvert County Commissioner Gerald W. Clark said Miller's statement took him by surprise.

"I'm sure he's probably put a lot of serious thought into when the right time would be to move on," said Clark, the council's chairman. "One thing for sure is he's earned the right to decide when the right time is to exit the arena."

It's not the first time Miller, who was first elected to the House of Delegates in 1971 and is in his 24th as the Senate's presiding officer, has publicly mentioned retiring.

Shortly after the 2006 election, he told the Washington Times that the current term would be his last. He quickly played down those comments and announced in 2008 that he planned to seek a 10th term.

Sen. Thomas "Mac" Middleton, who is regarded as a potential successor to Miller, was caught off guard by the statement but noted the Senate chief's previous talk of retirement.

"I guess he gives a lot of us hope," Middleton joked.

Several other legislative colleagues said they won't be convinced that Miller's hanging it up until his name isn't on the ballot.