DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — Democrat Marc Dann captured the attorney general's office on promises of ending the culture of corruption in state government.

"Our effort ... will start by insisting on transparency and accountability in all government institutions, including the Attorney General's Office," Dann said the day he took office.

Less than two years into the job, Dann has made headlines for a succession of questionable judgment calls.

The latest mess involves Anthony Gutierrez, Dann's close friend and neighbor, whom Dann put on the state payroll despite a blemished record.

Gutierrez, who is paid $87,500 a year to supervise the maintenance, purchasing and mailroom operations, is now on paid leave while the attorney general's office investigates claims that he sexually harassed two female employees half his age. As a state senator, Dann raised issues of who should investigate the Bureau of Workers' Compensation financial scandal.

"(Attorney General Jim) Petro and (Auditor) Betty Montgomery must get out of the way so that truly independent investigators can do their job," Dann said at the time.

GOP leaders have kept mum on the Gutierrez investigation, waiting to see what else gets reported.

"No comment at all," said Ohio Republican Party Deputy Chairman Kevin DeWine, who normally seizes an opportunity to criticize Dann.

Democratic political consultant Greg Haas said the problems aren't fatal for the Dann administration.

"Marc can survive all of this," Haas said. "A lot of administrations start off by taking on water ... but they righted themselves by looking in the mirror and saying, 'These aren't just nicks and scratches. These wounds are infected. Even if it's just perception, and to survive I must take strong steps.' ''

Since Dann took office, he had to fire his "top cop" Rick Alli for keeping his city of Youngstown job while on the state payroll, and his driver David Nelson, who was responsible for another man's shooting death. Dann spent $145,000 on personal security without disclosing what sort of threats he faced and he used the state planes more than a dozen times, including once for political purposes, at a cost of more than $22,000.

He disciplined a Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation agent and supervisor who criticized Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck and reprimanded communications director Leo Jennings for sending an abusive, profane e-mail to another manager.

Dann himself took lumps for shouting an obscenity at a reporter while TV cameras were rolling, buying an SUV from a campaign contributor instead of through the state purchasing system, and sending an insensitive e-mail to Jennings, saying "Jesus had it better on Good Friday."

Despite the bad publicity and negative headlines, Jennings said on Dann's behalf. "I have lots of flattering (headlines), including the ones from the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. I have a record of accomplishment in a year that I'll put up against the last two predecessors, combined, in 12 years. We have a staff 1,400 people and we've had issues with four."

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