Frosh is ‘still planning’ to succeed Miller as Senate President

Sen. Brian Frosh (D-Bethesda) told PolitickerMD.com today that he is "still planning to succeed" Sen. Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-Chesapeake Beach) as president of the Maryland State Senate, one-day after Miller announced that he would seek re-election in 2010.

"He's a good guy and I think he helps the Democrats," Frosh said. "I'm supporting him for re-election."

Yesterday, Miller ended speculation about his future plans, announcing that he would run for re-election, two years after saying his current term would be his last.

While saying he would seek re-election as Senate president in 2009, Miller did not specifically say he would seek the position beyond next year, though it is highly expected. The Senate elects the president on a yearly basis.

Frosh, 61, the chairman of the judicial proceedings committee, has been mentioned as a possible successor to Miller for some time, as have Finance Committee Chairman Thomas Middleton (D-Waldorf), Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Chairwoman Joan Carter Conway (D-Baltimore), and Budget and Taxation Committee Chairman Ulysses Currie (D-District Heights).

At his press conference, Miller said that any of the aforementioned potentials successors "would do a fine job."

Frosh has been a member of the Senate since 1995 and served as judicial proceedings chair since 2003. He was also a member of the House of Delegates from 1987-1995.

Asked why he would be the best successor, Frosh referred to his "experience in the General Assembly as a committee chair."

"There are a lot of good people in the Senate," he added.

In addition, Frosh said he did not think Miller's announcement would have an effect on the Senate's official business in the next two years or beyond.