The Whitaker family: Jeff, Matthew, Mason, Makayla, Kelly pose with Governor Beshear

(Mayfield KY - Oct. 1, 2012) - Kelly Whitaker's family was front and center at a fundraiser on Tuesday evening. Her four children, Matthew, 12, Makayla, 10, Mark, 8 and Mason 6, greeted guests like old campaigners. Their dad, Jeff, kept the kids rounded up (mostly) during an evening when his wife, in shiny UK blue dress, greeted the many well wishers who came out on a cool October evening during fall break, to hear Governor Beshear endorse her.

Mason was first to greet the Governor when he came in the door. Giving the top elected official in the state a combination thumbs up high five, Mason had him at hello.

Whitaker, a member of the Graves County School Board, helps preside over one of the most innovative school systems in the state. She takes her service seriously - when the state threatened to close Fancy Farm Elementary and combine elementary schools, she led a campaign to save the local school. A bright new elementary school now overlooks the small community of Fancy Farm.

As a pharmacist, Whitaker has a keen interest in health care. Whitaker, who is running to fill the seat Fred Nesler held for many years, said the area's biggest problem is "jobs." She wants to use government money more efficiently. She told the crowd that she comes from a "frugal people" explaining how her parents did not borrow money. They built their first home themselves, her dad sawing the timber for the house himself.

Whitaker's husband and four children are involved in Mom's campaign. Makayla explained the intricacies of envelope stuffing.

And of course, Mason has already learned how to meet the Big Guy at the door and make him feel at home.