Kilgore’s campaign becomes ‘a family affair’

It’s official. Jerry W. Kilgore’s wife has joined his campaign to become Virginia governor.

Marty Kilgore stepped down from her job as executive at the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation last week to join her husband’s Republican gubernatorial bid.

“I felt it needed to be a family affair,” she said.

Mrs. Kilgore has campaigned for other family members, including her husband’s twin brother, Terry Kilgore, when he ran for commonwealth’s attorney and in his race for the House of Delegates.

Mrs. Kilgore, a former public school teacher, said she probably will be on the campaign trail separate from her husband and said she will likely speak about his education plan.

• All in the family II

Mary D. Kane, wife of the chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, was appointed secretary of state last week by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.

Mrs. Kane replaces R. Karl Aumann, who was sworn in Tuesday as chairman of the Maryland Worker’s Compensation Commission. Mrs. Kane had been Mr. Aumann’s deputy.

Mrs. Kane is a graduate of Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg and received a law degree from Catholic University in Washington.

She is married to John Kane, who took over as chairman of the Republican Party after Michael S. Steele resigned to run for lieutenant governor in 2002.

The office of secretary of state traditionally has been filled by someone with strong political connections.

The office administers the state law regulating charities and handles extraditions, trademark registrations, notaries public and Maryland’s international agreements, including sister state relationships in other countries.

• Triple-header

Virginia’s three gubernatorial candidates may never share a debate stage before the Nov. 8 election, but they all will speak at the Virginia Association of Counties summer conference next week.

Jerry W. Kilgore, the Republican nominee, will speak at 1 p.m. Aug. 14, and independent candidate H. Russell Potts Jr. will speak at 4 p.m. Democratic candidate Timothy M. Kaine will speak Aug. 15 at 9 a.m.

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