Before Martin O'Malley left the governor's office in January, he had an urgent matter to attend to: lighting the State House dome purple before the Baltimore Ravens' playoff game Jan. 10 against the New England Patriots.
O'Malley made the dome-lighting a priority in his final weeks, according to emails obtained by The Baltimore Sun through a Public Information Act request. He even enlisted his chief of staff, John Griffin, to seek the support of House Speaker Michael E. Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller.
"They both reluctantly acquiesce to lighting the [State House] Dome purple for Saturday's Ravens game," Griffin wrote on Jan. 6. "The Speaker just wanted you to know that they turn down many requests from nonprofits with good causes."
O'Malley's response: "Light up the dome."
He added: "Tell the Speaker I turn down all those other requests as well — I think national championship drives for our one major city is the right exception!"
O'Malley, who is now seeking the Democratic nomination for president, also raised the issue in an email discussion with Alvin C. Collins, then the secretary of the Department of General Services.
"The statehouse dome — it needs to be lit up purple for the Ravens!" O'Malley wrote.
"Yes, sir. Understood!!!" Collins replied.
An hour later, Griffin emailed Collins, apparently unaware that his boss had beat him to it.
"Al, the Governor wants the State House lit for Saturday's game."
Three days later, on Jan. 9, Collins replied with an update. "Governor. Purple will glow tonight. Let's hope we get a reason to keep it so beyond this weekend."
But when the dome was lit on game day, the governor was not satisfied.
"The dome looks blue," O'Malley wrote to Collins and Griffin. "I think we needed a red cellophane with the blue ones. :)"
"Yes sir," Collins replied.
":) You are my favorite cabinet secretary, don't tell the others," O'Malley replied playfully.
Collins then explained that the tint in the light for the dome is coded by a computer programming company in Philadelphia.
"Gonna be impossible to get him down here until first of week," Collins wrote. "Sorry sir, we cannot adjust the tint further at the moment. We are thinking it thru however."
Officials did not get a chance to improve the color: The Patriots defeated the Ravens, 35-31, and went on to win the Super Bowl.
Two days after the game, Collins informed the governor that he was leaving state government. He thanked the governor for helping to put him in "a great life place."
"Let's stay in touch, my friend," O'Malley wrote. "You have been outstanding — on many levels."
—Doug Donovan