Maryland Sen. Ulysses Currie, who is under federal investigation for his undisclosed employment with a local grocery store chain, praised a Shoppers company executive for donating to a program he called “close to my heart,” according to documents released Monday.

The Prince George’s Democrat wrote a note to Bill White, then-chief executive officer of Shoppers Food Warehouse, on Senate Budget and Taxation Committee letterhead on Sept. 26, 2003.

“I certainly enjoyed the golf tournament on last Monday and was very impressed with the work you are doing and the wonderful donation made to the Head Start program,” Currie wrote. “As I am sure you know this is a program that is close to my heart. The contribution to Johns Hopkins was also wonderful.”

The letter was turned over by the state’s Department of Legislative Services in response to a federal subpoena and released in response to public information requests submitted by The Examiner and other media.

This story continues below
Advertisement

The company has paid Currie, 70, more than $200,000 over four years for consulting work, according to documents unsealed last month.

Currie apparently reported the income on his tax records through at least 2007 but did not include it on required financial disclosure forms with the General Assembly.

Previously released documents show Currie facilitated state road projects that benefited Shoppers stores across the state and may have helped secure funding for the redevelopment of Baltimore City’s Mondawmin Mall, where Shoppers opened a store last year.

In his note to White, Currie said he spoke with former Gov. Robert Ehrlich’s budget secretary, James “Chip” DiPaula, about the project.

“He is working with Rouse but needs a little more time — two to three weeks,” Currie wrote.

Currie’s attorney, Dale Kelberman, did not return a call by press time.

Currie, a retired educator, serves on the board of the Capital Area Food Bank, which receives donations from Shoppers, and sponsored bond bills during the past two legislative sessions that benefited the organization.

jmalarkey@baltimoreexaminer.com