On the SidE. . .

ON THE SIDE. . .
This and that from the world of Valley politics.
ELECTION AVALANCHE: Jean Hay Bright, born in Youngstown and reared in Boardman, was soundly defeated in her run for a U.S. Senate seat in Maine. Bright, a Democrat, received less than 25 percent of the vote, losing to U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, the Republican incumbent.
Winds of change? After Republicans lost several key statewide races, talk is picking up that Ohio GOP Chairman Bob Bennett won't seek re-election when his term expires in January. Bennett has considered retiring the past few years, but won't comment on his plans to run again.
Bennett has repeatedly said Columbiana County Republican Chairman Dave Johnson is on the short list of those who could replace him. Like Bennett and other Republicans, Johnson had a rough election night. Johnson strongly backed state Rep. Chuck Blasdel for the 6th Congressional District seat and county Commissioner Jim Hoppel for the Ohio House. Both were defeated by their Democratic opponents.
skolnick@vindy.com