WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) released the following statement on the death of long-time WBAL-AM talk show host Ron Smith:

“I have been on Ron Smith’s show many times over the years and he had a unique voice that made him a Baltimore radio icon.  While Ron and I often disagreed, he was always fair, he was always insightful and he was always honest with his listeners.  Today, I join the many, many fans of Ron Smith in mourning the passing of someone I had enormous respect for and who I counted as a true friend.  My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, June, and his family.”