On the SidE. . .

ON THE SIDE. . .
This and that from the world of Valley politics.
HIGHER POWER: Even if they don't agree with the decision, Mahoning County Republican Party officials still answer to a higher power.
Sara Taylor, deputy assistant to President Bush and the White House's director of political affairs, spoke Wednesday at the party's Reagan Day dinner. For those of you not familiar with county Republican Reagan and/or Lincoln Day dinners, the guest speaker is typically a congressman, a state officeholder or a state office candidate. This was the first time in a while I was eager to attend for a reason other than to eat.
Taylor is one of Bush's top political aides, was heavily involved in his presidential campaigns and is offering assistance this year to key Senate and gubernatorial races, including the ones in Ohio.
A few hours before the event, Mark Munroe, Mahoning Republican vice chairman, called to let me know the White House had closed the dinner to members of the media. But Munroe went the extra mile and set up a telephone interview for me with Taylor the morning after the dinner. Taylor apologized for the media blackout, explaining that to be fair all local media outlets should have been invited to the event. Apparently there was a mix-up at the White House [go figure] because the Mahoning GOP annual dinners are always open to the media.
skolnick@vindy.com