By Daniel LeDuc
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, January 28, 2002; 12:46 PM

Maryland Gov. Parris N. Glendening quietly married his former deputy chief of staff over the weekend and the couple is on a honeymoon in an undisclosed location, his spokesman said today.

Glendening (D), 59, married Jennifer Crawford, 35, who resigned as his deputy chief of staff on Friday. The couple first wed in a civil ceremony performed by Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Clerk Robert P. Duckworth Friday afternoon and then held a ceremony for their immediate families at Government House, the governor's mansion in Annapolis, on Saturday.

The governor wore black tie. Crawford wore a white strapless bridal gown, according to an official photograph supplied by Glendening's press office.

Glendening was divorced from his second wife, Frances Ann Glendening, on Nov. 19, two days before what would have been their 25th wedding anniversary.

They had separated in July 2000. Glendening and Crawford have been involved in a relationship since at least last spring and the governor had been regularly staying at her Annapolis home.

A handful of the governor's senior aides were informed of the marriage plans last week. The rest of Glendening's staff were told by Chief of Staff Al Collins during a brief, specially called meeting in the governor's reception room this morning.

Because of the marriage, Crawford now is officially Maryland's first lady. Unlike Frances Ann Glendening, she is not expected to have any taxpayer-paid staff nor stake out any issues for advocacy.

"She is a very private person," said Glendening spokesman Michael Morrill.

The couple is expected to return to Annapolis on Wednesday evening and Glendening will resume his public schedule Thursday.

Crawford's assistant, Sushant Sidh, has been named acting deputy chief of staff to replace her.