Former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. today introduced supporters in Silver Spring to the woman he has chosen as his ticket-mate in this year's governor's race: Mary Kane.
To a crowd of about 100 hoisting freshly printed Ehrlich-Kane signs, the Republican candidate described Kane as "a trusted partner ... who shares my vision."
He noted her background as a prosecutor and his secretary of state and called her "a confidante to the Ehrlichs."
Kane made brief remarks, introducing her parents, who are Irish immigrants; her husband, John; and her three young-adult children.
"Governor, we have a big task ahead of us," she said. She repeated campaign themes of "lowering the tax burden on families" and strengthening the business community.
Supporters chanted, "Mary!" and sported button reading, "Welcome to 'Mary'land" and "We (heart) Mary." One of Ehrlich's Montgomery County coordinators praised his selection of Kane as "extremely energizing to this county."
"I have been rooting for her," said Katja Bullock. "She's a very solid woman, fabulous on small business and politically very savvy."
Taking a handful of reporters' questions after their speeches, Ehrlich and Kane appeared to wave off Democratic Party inquiries about her husband's legal troubles. "Nobody wants to hear about that stuff," Ehrlich said.
John Kane, who own a successful office moving and storage company, has been sued federally for fraudulent billing. (Follow the below link to today's story for more details.)
Ehrlich announced his selection of Kane last night on his Facebook page. The duo will appear this afternoon at a Baltimore charter school at an event hosted by city councilman Carl Stokes.