In the midst of the political wrangling over electricity rates, state lawmakers paused for a moment of silence to honor the memory of a longtime colleague, Baltimore County Del. John Arnick, who died Tuesday of cancer.
Arnick, 72, resigned from the House of Delegates in April to take an appointment to the Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals. He was diagnosed with cancer in early May.
John Olszewski, a teacher at Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts in Dundalk, was sworn in by Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich as Arnick?s replacement Monday.
During more than 30 years in the House, Arnick served as majority leader twice and chaired the House Environmental Matters and Judiciary committees. He was resigned his seat in the early 1990s to take a seat on the District Court bench, but was forced to withdraw his name over allegations of sexual harassment.
“We were all praying for him, hoping this wouldn?t happen,” said Sen. Norman Stone, D-Baltimore County, who was a friend and colleague of Arnick?s for more than 40 years. “He was a great person and an excellent legislator. We?re going to miss him.”
A Baltimore native, Arnick attended public schools and graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 1961. He was a Marine veteran and lawyer, and first elected as a Democrat to represent District 6 in Baltimore County in 1967.
“My heartfelt prayers go out to John?s wife, Joann, and his family during this very sad and difficult time,” Ehrlich said in a statement. “John was a personal friend and a hardworking colleague in the House of Delegates. ? He was deeply committed to public service and his dedication will be missed.”
