The Ohio Republican Party's central committee unanimously endorsed Taylor yesterday after she informed the 66 members in a conference call Wednesday night that she would run for re-election.

In a statement, Taylor, 43, said she appreciated the endorsement and will wait until next week to officially announce her candidacy. She declined to comment further.

She had flirted with a bid for the Senate seat being vacated at the end of next year by the retiring Republican incumbent, Sen. George V. Voinovich. Taylor, elected in 2006, currently is the GOP's only statewide executive officeholder.

A Senate campaign would have put Taylor on a collision course with former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman of Cincinnati. Portman announced his candidacy in January and already has more than $3 million on hand, along with endorsements from many GOP activists around the state.

Cleveland-area car dealer Tom Ganley also has said he will seek the GOP nomination for Senate.

Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine was relieved by Taylor's decision not to challenge Portman.

"I wasn't looking forward to having a contested primary between two highly respected, highly regarded public servants," DeWine said. "Having Mary run for re-election to auditor also prevents me from having to go look for a candidate."

Portman called Taylor "a friend and a strong candidate who will help lead our ticket to victory. I look forward to campaigning with her in the months ahead."

Taylor's decision sets up a potentially big-spending general-election showdown next year with Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper, who announced his Democratic candidacy this week. Pepper, 37, served on Cincinnati City Council from 2001 to 2005 and has been a commissioner for Ohio's third-largest county since January 2007.

The two parties are expected to wage all-out war for the auditor's post because the auditor, along with the governor and secretary of state, is a member of the State Apportionment Board. The five-member board will redraw new legislative districts after the 2010 census, and the party controlling it traditionally configures more districts favoring its candidates.

jhallett@dispatch.com