AG opinion finds Perez candidacy constitutional

Friday, May 19, 2006

County Councilman Thomas E. Perez’s résumé meets the minimum requirements of the Maryland constitution, the state’s Attorney General’s Office has ruled.

The attorney general must have practiced law in the state for 10 years. Perez has been a member of the state bar association since 2001, but was U.S. Justice Department prosecutor with Maryland jurisdiction starting in 1989.

The federal work constitutes ‘‘in the state,” according to the opinion, written by assistant attorney general Robert N. McDonald.

For the past 20 years, J. Joseph Curran Jr. (D) has been Maryland attorney general. He announced his retirement earlier this month. That prompted several individuals to enter the race to succeed him.

Perez (D-Dist. 5) of Takoma Park is scheduled to kick off his campaign on Tuesday. Montgomery County State’s Attorney Douglas F. Gansler (D) officially entered the race this week. State Sen. Brian E. Frosh (D-Dist. 16) of Bethesda also is considering a candidacy.

The only Republican to announce so far is Frederick County State’s Attorney Scott L. Rolle, who has the backing of Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R).