Whether there are tears or joy at tonight’s election-night party for Ally Miller and members of the Oro Valley GOP, it won't be documented in the annals of Tucson media.
That’s because journalists aren't allowed to cover the gathering at the Fox & Hound, 7625 N. La Cholla Blvd. That’s an unusual move for politicians on election night.
An Arizona Daily Star photographer was not allowed entry to the Tucson restaurant. A sign at the entrance of the restaurant said that no members of the media would be welcome.
Miller has had a tense relationship with many local media outlets, including the Star, and generally avoids reporters.
In recent months, the Star and other outlets have reported on an ongoing controversy surrounding her use of private email to conduct public business, something she has denied doing.
However, emails obtained by the Star through public records requests show Miller regularly corresponding with staff via private email accounts, one of several measures she wrote were necessary to avoid the "prying eyes" of county officials.
In mid-July, Miller submitted her own records requests for over 131,000 emails, among other materials. Several county officials said it was likely the largest request ever received by the county and would take significant time and resources to respond to.
