Spokesman Jim McCoy said Thursday that Abercrombie needs to give his mother-in-law his immediate attention.

His chief of staff, Amy Asselbaye, and his deputy chief of staff, Andrew Aoki, will travel to the conference instead.

The three-day biennial, bipartisan event features a series of workshops and business sessions led by veteran governors.

The experienced governors will discuss such issues as management of executive budgets, shaping a vision for their administrations, strategic scheduling, communications and emergency preparedness.

This weekend’s seminar in Colorado Springs is sponsored by the National Governors Association.