The General Assembly opened its rare special session Wednesday on a bittersweet note as both chambers paused to pay their respects to the late Democratic Del. John Arnick from Baltimore County who died Tuesday.
Arnick, 72, died of cancer a little more than one month after he was diagnosed. A more than 40-year veteran of the state legislature, Arnick resigned his seat in the House of Delegates in April to take an appointment to the state Board of Contract Appeals.
Sen. Norman Stone, D-Baltimore, first met Arnick more than 40 years ago when Arnick was an aide to then-Sen. Roy Staten. The two served together, representing the same district, for more than 40 years.
“He was a great legislator,” Stone said, and a stubborn one as well, who frequently had a one-word description for bills he planned to vote against: “dumb.”
Senate President Thomas Mike Miller, D-Calvert, met Arnick in 1962 when he was a lowly driver for the General Assembly. Despite the partisanship that prevails today in Annapolis, Miller said, “it?s more important to remember who your friends are,” and said Arnick was one of them.
In the House of Delegates, a yellow rose tied with red, black and yellow ribbons was placed on the speaker?s platform in honor of Arnick. House Speaker Michael Busch said a flag also was flown over the state capitol building Wednesday in Arnick?s memory, and both houses agreed to adjourn the special session in his memory.
Funeral services will be held at noon Tuesday at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church in Baltimore.
Earlier this week, Del. John Olszewski, 23, was officially sworn in to replace Arnick in the House. Olszewski is a second-year government and history teacher at Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts. His father serves as chairman of the Baltimore County Council.
“They?re not shoes I can fill,” he said Wednesday afternoon between floor sessions. “The best I can do is serve the constituents as best I can.”
In preparation for his first votes as a state delegate, Olszewski said he “read a lot and asked a lot of questions.” In addition to beginning his legislative career with a rare special session, Olszewski was also faced with significant votes on electricity rates and sex offender laws.
“I feel like I?m at a point where I can make a good decision [about rate relief],” he said. “Hopefully we can get a comprehensive strategy to provide relief for consumers.”
Examiner Staff Writer Len Lazarick contributed to this article.
