Michael Cryor leaving as Maryland Democratic chairman

Published January 9, 2009 5:00am ET



Michael Cryor, the state Democratic Party chairman for the past 18 months, is leaving the post to devote more time to his communications consulting business, which now includes a client seeking Baltimore’s slots license.

“My client load has jumped considerably. I really can’t afford to keep doing this,” said Cryor, the only African-American who headed a state Democratic Party.

He said his representation of the Harbor Casino Group was only one of the factors. “Knowing how contentions the issue has been in the state, I don’t want anyone to think that I was using the mantle of chair to favor anyone,” he said.

Cryor told The Examiner that he informed Gov. Martin O’Malley in mid-December that he would be leaving the position.

– Len Lazarick