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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > March > 19 > Entry
The Return of Marc Dann
Former attorney general Marc Dann returned to the media spotlight on Thursday, March 19, and could barely keep quiet.
He arrived early for a 10 a.m. Ohio Elections Commission hearing with his lawyer, Donald McTigue, and genially chatted up the reporters who covered him during his time as a state senator and attorney general.
During the lengthy hearing, Dann passed notes and whispered to McTigue so often that opposing counsel dryly said, “The secretary of state would be happy to have Mr. Dann sworn in if he’d like to testify.”
Thursday’s hearing marked perhaps the first public appearance by Dann in the state capital since his resignation May 14, 2008.
With a dozen reporters, four TV cameras and two news photographers paying close attention, McTigue defended decisions made by the Dann For Ohio campaign committee to spend $40,000 on an extensive home security system at Dann’s Liberty Twp. home.
The security system was seen as less costly than continuing to pay police officers to provide 24-hour executive protection.
The security measures started in July 2, 2007 after Dann’s then Deputy First Assistant Brian Laliberte received vague, threatening phone call at work on June 29, 2007.
Between July and November, state taxpayers paid more than $145,000 for police protection for Dann and his family. The Dann administration decided to install the home security system to replace the more costly police protection.
McTigue argued that it was an ordinary, verifiable campaign expense related to Dann’s duties as an office holder so it shouldn’t be considered a violation of campaign finance laws. The threats were related to Dann’s position, he said.
Assistant Attorney General Melinda Osgood, who represents Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, countered that a $40,000 security system is a permanent fixture that benefits the Dann family - something that goes way beyond an ordinary expense.
Marc Dann biography Personal: Age 47; married to journalist Alyssa Lenhoff. They have a son and two daughters. Political party: Democrat Public service: Local board of education member, Ohio Senate, Attorney General Jan. 2007 to May 2008 Legal experience: Entered private practice in Youngstown in 1991 and returned to private practice in Youngstown and Cleveland.
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By kevin DeWhine
March 19, 2009 11:18 PM | Link to this
I echo the comments here. We need to get my good buddy Jon Husted, R-Columbus, elected. But this isn’t voter fraud even though he votes in Dayton.By Philman
March 19, 2009 4:31 PM | Link to this
It’s amazing the difference a party makes. poor ol Rep. Ney went to prison for going on a little golf excursion to Irerland. Dann runs the state like the Mafia and gets a little slap on the wristBy Libertarian
March 19, 2009 12:19 PM | Link to this
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.By LMAO
March 19, 2009 11:23 AM | Link to this
It’s a real tribute to Bob Taft, that Dann, Strickland and the rest of the current officeholders in this state were even electable to begin with. Hopefully a good number of people will be back to thinking clearly by the fall of 2010