Lynn Caligiuri

Lynn Caligiuri also remains the campaign treasurer to the Friends of Connie Morella for Congress Committee, which still has more than $20,000 in the bank.

When Frank Kratovil announced that Lynn Caligiuri, a campaign consultant to Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, would be joining the Democrat's campaign after her Republican boss of more than a decade and a half was defeated in the February primary, they didn't say anything about whether she would still work for Gilchrest.

According to the latest filings from the Federal Election Commission, she's working for both of them.

After a bruising contest that saw negative attack ads and arguments about contributions from political action committees, state Sen. Andy Harris defeated nine-term incumbent Rep. Wayne Gilchrest  and state Sen. E.J. Pipkin in the Feb. 12 GOP primary in Maryland's 1st Congressional District.

Since that time, Gilchrest has been highly critical of Harris, leading many to believe that he may endorse the Democratic candidate, Frank Kratovil. His longtime aide, Lynn Caligiuri, joined the Kratovil campaign in April as a finance coordinator. Harris picked-up Pipkin's endorsement.

Despite the divisions between the incumbent congressman and the party's nominee, Harris Campaign Manager Chris Meekins told PolitickerMD.com today that Republicans are "unified behind Andy Harris."

Congressional candidate Andy HarrisResponding to accusations leveled against state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) by his opponent in Maryland's First Congressional District, Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville), Harris campaign manager Chris Meekins said today that his candidate has a history of "reaching across the aisle" to work with Democrats in the legislator.

"(Harris) supported a paper trail for electronic voting machines and he has continuously opposed wasteful spending regardless of whether it is a Democratic or Republican governor," Meekins said to highlight his point.

Speaking in Towson last night, Kratovil said Harris has voted, and will continue to vote "straight party line," and would be "one of the most conservative people in Congress."

He also said the Harris campaign was overplaying the significance of his relationship with Gov. Martin O'Malley (D), calling the governor a "friend," but adding, "We don't agree on everything," namely illegal immigration.

"We don't have to link him to Gov. O'Malley," Meekins told PolitickerMD.com. "He's already done that."

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.

Lynn Caligiuri, a longtime aide to Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Kennedyville) has been hired by the congressional campaign of Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) to assist in fundraising matters, according to Erik Gulbrandsen, the campaign’s communications director.

“She will be helping us to go after some of the Republican money and some of the national money,” Gulbrandsen told PolitickerMD.com.

Gilchrest lost his bid for re-nomination to Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) in February’s Republican primary in Maryland’s First Congressional District.

Kratovil, the Democratic nominee, has been courting Gilchrest supporters; both men are political moderates.

Tony Caligiuri, Lynn’s husband and Gilchrest’s chief of staff, has already pledged his support to Kratovil. Gilchrest has not endorsed a candidate.

Chris Meekins, Harris’ campaign manager, could not be reached for immediate comment.

Tony Caligiuri, the chief of staff to Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Kennedyville), was among a crowd of approximately 50 guests at a breakfast gathering of the organization “Republicans for Kratovil” at the Kent Center in Chestertown, this morning.

Queen Anne's County State's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) will face state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) in the November election in Maryland's First Congressional District. Harris defeated Gilchrest in the Feb. 12 GOP primary.

Other Republicans who attended the breakfast included Tony Caligiuri's wife, Lynn, who has also worked for Gilchrest. Karen Willis, a Gilchrest office manager, attended, along with Kent County Commissioner Roy Crow.

Kent County State's Attorney Robert Strong, a Democrat, was also present.