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ON THE SIDE. . .
This and that from the world of Valley politics.
BICKERING POLITICOS: There certainly isn't any love lost between former state Rep. Michael Verich, and Christ Michelakis, chairman of Trumbull County Democratic Party.
Republican Gov. Bob Taft reappointed Verich, a Democrat who crossed party lines to endorse President Bush, to the State Employment Relations Board this week for a second six-year term. Verich was initially appointed to the post by George V. Voinovich, a Republican, during the now-U.S. senator's final days as the state's governor.
Michelakis said the reappointment is political payback.
"That was a no-brainer," Michelakis said. Verich has "worked for Republicans. He endorsed Bush. His whole motivation for doing those things was to save his job."
Verich, of Warren, said his county party chairman has no idea what he's talking about.
"Christ Michelakis should worry more about getting Democrats re-elected and the scrutiny Democratic officeholders are getting in Trumbull County, and less about my work on the board," Verich said.
Verich specifically pointed to last week's defeat of state Rep. Dan Sferra of Warren, D-64th, the only incumbent Ohio House Democrat to lose his race this year. He also referred to the criminal investigations into the county's purchasing policies.
skolnick@vindy.com