State Sen. Allan H. Kittleman shocked Maryland Republicans by announcing Tuesday that he will step down as Senate minority leader, a decision he said he made after fellow caucus members voiced discomfort with legislation he is pushing to recognize same-sex civil unions.
"I'm a social moderate, and I wanted to stand up for what I believe in," the Howard County Republican said in a brief interview Tuesday morning on his way to the Senate chamber. He has held the position for two years.
"It is more important for me to stay true to my beliefs than it is for me to be the minority leader," Kittleman said later. He said it was "no secret" that he is more liberal on social issues than other Senate Republicans, and he decided they would "feel more comfortable" with a different leader.
Kittleman stressed that no one had pressured him to step down.
"It is my decision and my decision alone," he said. He said he will remain in the post until Friday, when Senate Republicans select a new leader.
Republican lawmakers have been fuming in private since Kittleman said this month that he would offer legislation to allow civil unions in Maryland.
Though Kittleman took pains to push the legislation as a single state senator and not the GOP leader, many in his caucus did not believe the two roles could be separated on what is expected to be one of the more contentious issues of the 90-day legislative session.
The anger boiled up last week at a GOP caucus meeting at which the 11 other Republicans in the Maryland Senate aired their concerns.
"A lot of us were not on board," said state Sen. David R. Brinkley, a Frederick County Republican. "A lot of us didn't want to have to vote against our leader."
Brinkley, who was recently elected minority whip, characterized the discussion as "healthy." He said he believed the caucus had "decided to move on."
Sen. Nancy Jacobs, a Republican from Cecil and Harford counties, described her colleagues as "blindsided" and "flabbergasted" by Kittleman's decision.
"He stepped down out of respect for the caucus," Jacobs said. As minority leader, Kittleman "has had to put his thoughts on the back burner" to advance the Senate Republican caucus position, she said. "It was difficult for him."
State Republican Party Chairman Alex Mooney said he hoped that Kittleman would change his mind.
"We are in a more difficult position if it seems like we don't support moderates," Mooney said.
Brinkley, the No. 2 Republican in the state Senate, led the caucus in 2006 and 2007 but decided not to seek re-election in 2008, saying he wanted to focus more on his business and family after a divorce. He also holds views that make some in his party uncomfortable: He wants to legalize medical marijuana.