Gov. Martin O’Malley has asked state Democratic Party officials to name Michael Cryor, a Baltimore City communications consultant, as their new chairman when they convene June 16. Cryor was co-chairman of then-Baltimore City Mayor O’Malley’s Believe Campaign and a paid public relations consultant who helped reorganize the City Hall communications office in 2003. Current party Chairman Terry Lierman is leaving at the end of the month to become chief of staff to U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, the southern Maryland congressman.

“I’m quite honored to have been asked,” Cryor said. He declined to discuss any plans he has for the party, which reclaimed the state House last year.

“I certainly want to build upon the extraordinary efforts of Terry Lierman” in raising the number of donors to the party and increasing volunteer participation, Cryor said, adding that “fundraising is key.”

Cryor said that Democratic Maryland incumbents would help elevate the party.

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“They are in very, very important places in Congress,” including Hoyer, U.S. Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin, and U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, he said.

Lierman said Cryor was “a terrific recommendation, and I’ve got every confidence the Democratic Central Committee will endorse that recommendation.” Lierman said he had had discussions with O’Malley about the choice. Cryor declined to say whom he supported in last year’s U.S. Senate race, but Federal Elections Commission records show he contributed to the campaigns of former Rep. Kweisi Mfume and Cummings. He gave O’Malley’s campaign $1,000.

After Mfume lost a close primary to Cardin, Mfume said Democrats needed to bring more minority representation to leadership positions.

“I would think that my selection is in part a response to that,” said Cryor, who is black.

llazarick@baltimoreexaminer.com