Gilchrest aide discusses decision to join Kratovil, Harris campaign downplays significance

Lynn Caligiuri, who has worked for Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Kennedyville) for some 15 years, issued a statement explaining her decision to join the campaign of Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) in Maryland’s First Congressional District. Kratovil will face conservative state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) in the November election. Harris defeated Gilchrest, a nine-term incumbent, in the Feb. 12 GOP primary.

“Obviously many of us were disappointed in the Republican primary results, but we now have an opportunity to send someone to Washington to continue to represent our values and end the partisan attacks and divisiveness that has rendered Congress ineffective and unresponsive,” Caligiuri , who will serve as a finance coordinator, said. “Frank Kratovil is the right choice.”

A political moderate, Kratovil has courted Gilchrest voters since his primary victory; the congressman has long been known for his bipartisanship.

“I have been fortunate to get to know Frank Kratovil, and I have found him to be a thoughtful, knowledgeable leader who cares deeply about the people of this district,” Caligiuri said. “Frank is clearly the only choice to continue the moderate, inclusive approach that we appreciated in Wayne Gilchrest’s service, and it is an honor to be a part of Frank’s team.”
Meanwhile, Harris campaign manager Chris Meekins downplayed the significance, saying Caligiuri “hasn’t proven any results.”

“We outraised the congressman,” Meekins said of the primary campaign. “For a sitting congressman to be outraised by a challenger — that doesn’t happen.”

Caligiuri had served as campaign and finance director for Gilchrest since 1999 and worked on all of the congressman’s successful re-election campaigns from 1994-2006, as well as his unsuccessful 2008 primary campaign

Meekins said “voters don’t pay attention” to who works on or endorses a campaign, and said he was not concerned about Caligiuri joining Kratovil’s staff, or the message that it may send to voters.

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