Can Private Lives of Public Figures Stay Private?

Recently, Missouri Lieutenant Governor candidate and current Speaker of the Missouri House, Steven Tilley, announced that he is getting divorced at least partly because of his and his current wife's demanding schedules. 

It seems obvious that he is trying to get this announcement out and behind him before the political season truly ramps up in 2012.

Of particular note is that Speaker Tilley has a request of the public:  "We are asking people to respect our privacy as a family, but know it will undoubtedly become public."

What if the St. Peters' Mayor or an Alderman were to announce an impending divorce about a year before the next municipal election? Should we care? Would you care?  

Afterall, we routinely hear about the high divorce rates in the United States and that more couples live together and have kids out of wedlock than ever before (more unmarried than married starting around 2008).

So, is it ridiculous or understandable that a Mayor, Alderman or House Speaker would ask that the public respect his/her privacy?