ON THE SIDE. . .
ON THE SIDE. . .
This and that from the world of Valley politics.
UP IN SMOKE: An intern in U.S. Rep. Phil English's Washington, D.C., office saw her political career go up in smoke. Roll Call, a D.C. political publication, reported that the 27-year-old intern was getting a tour of the Capitol about 21/2 hours into her first -- and last -- day on the job by a staff assistant. When she reached a security checkpoint connecting the Cannon House Office Building to the Capitol, she put her purse on an X-ray belt and went through a metal detector. The publication reported that a police officer spotted a small wooden box and a little pipe containing supposed marijuana. The woman was handcuffed and charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Needless to say, the intern was fired. The congressional district of English of Erie, Pa., R-3rd, includes a portion of Mercer County.
Sales tax: The Democrats of the 17th and 6th Districts, a local political organization, overwhelming endorsed the 0.5-percent Mahoning County permanent sales tax plan. Some people said they were shocked that the group, which has been at odds with the county commissioners, supports the tax. Not me, though. Commissioner David Ludt often attends the group's meetings and has been endorsed by it. The organization endorsed the commissioner candidacy of Anthony Traficanti in the Democratic primary. If Traficanti beats Republican Sam Moffie in the general election, the group would have two friendly faces on the three-person board of commissioners.
skolnick@vindy.com