Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) (Photo, as it appears on www.fda.gov)

Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), an old India-friend and close ally to Indian Americans in his state of Maryland, has said he will be retiring in 2006 when re-election comes around.

“We are losing a very thoughtful and deliberate voice in the Senate. He is someone with a perspective of history, progressive in his agenda, and has made so many valuable contributions such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Bill that changed the character of the markets, and made them more honest and responsible, increasing the well-being of the economy and of the people,” said Lalit Gadhia, a longtime political operative in Maryland who has known Senator Sarbanes since he was in the State Senate more than 30 years ago.

“From the perspective of the Indian community, he has been one of the champions of strengthening U.S.-India relationship, sensitive to the needs of both countries. We hope his successor will be just as sensitive,” Gadhia added.

Senator Sarbanes, who was frequently seen at Indian American gatherings both in Maryland and in Washington, D.C., came up the ranks Having started as an Assemblyman in Maryland, moving to the State Senate, then the U.S. House of Representatives, and finally the U.S. Senate.

With a Republican Governor and a White House that is in the grip of a popular Republican President, and commanding a majority in Senate, the Republicans may look to replace Sarbanes with a Republican in what has usually been a Democratic voting state.

On the Democratic side, there could be multiple contenders to replace the retiring Senator, such as Representatives Ben Cardin, who has come up the same ladder; senior Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Elijah Cummins, Chris Van Hollen (who was born in India), Al Wynn, or “Dutch” Rupertsberger. On the Republican side, it could be Connie Morella or even the current Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich.

Maryland Assembly Majority Leader Kumar Barve remembers how Sarbanes was his early supporter back in 1990 when he began his run for the State Assembly. “There are 10 Senators of his quality. He’s a real statesman and it’s a real loss for the United States of America. I understand there are many who would continue to clutch on to power, they should take a lesson from Paul Sarbanes. I consider him a mentor. What he did on Sarbanes-Oxley Act is a lesson in how legislation should take place. He would study an issue sort of like a scholar. Unfortunately, politics today is dominated by polar opposites,” Barve told the New India-Times.

As for Indian Americans, Barve said: “He was a friend of ours long before we raised the first dime for him. He was a supporter of India at the very beginning of his career in 1976. He believed in the Indian democracy long before anybody even knew about it.”