Comments on: Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner: On Ohio AG Marc Dann

By: John Ettorre

John Ettorre — Sat, 10 May 2008 21:37:02 +0000

The Shark surfaces, trying to inject common sense to Ohio politics, via blog comments. Good for you, MA.

By: Marwood

Marwood — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:54:33 +0000

Dann admitted that he was unprepared for the office.

What else do we need to know?

By: Mary Anne Sharkey

Mary Anne Sharkey — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:03:27 +0000

Thanks for finding an old quote but I think it’s one thing to say there should be consequences and quite another to call for impeachment.
The Akron Beacon Journal called the whole process into question today in an editorial and I understand The Plain Dealer has similar concerns.
I still believe that the Governor’s office did not play this whole scenario through when it issued a rather hot-headed statement.
Marc Dann is fortunate that Rep. Bill Batchelder was named the House’s lead legislator. Bill is eminently fair and will not play partisan politics on such a grave matter.
I am by no means defending Marc Dann’s appalling behavior but I do respect the process. He was elected to his post and I don’t think his reported transgressions rise to impeachment level.
The caveat here is reported to date – that is not to say more things will come to light.

By: Ben K

Ben K — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:52:18 +0000

It does look like some Democrats are now leaving an out for Dann, like maybe he can stay.

By: Jan

Jan — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:08:28 +0000

I agree with Mary Ann….I never heard any calls for resignation when Mrs. Coleman got into trouble in Lee Fisher’s office..she falisfied payroll records & had a DUI…that’s a double standard for unfair treatment of officeholders!

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:48:53 +0000

Ms. Sharkey, in a February 26, 2006 Toledo Blade article you were quoted as saying, “The culture has not changed, and it won’t until people are outraged and there are consequences” in reference to the conviction of two former Taft aides for violations of state ethics laws.

I’d like to hope that maybe this time we can nudge the culture just a little toward change. But that will only happen if the people remain outraged and this time, finally, there are consequences.

By: Mary Anne Sharkey

Mary Anne Sharkey — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:54:36 +0000

The Governor’s office rush to impeachment was ill-advised as few believe that the offenses as we now understand them rise to the level of impeachment.
Ohio law is vague on this issue but because there were no impeachment during the past century (and we had plenty of scandal during those years) that common and midemeanor crimes like hiring cronies, ineptitude and skirt-chasing are not quite impeachment-level transgressions.
This is not to preclude the possibility that more might be out there. But at this juncture, it is highly unlikely Marc Dann will be impeached by his former peers who are are not unfamiliar with his behavior.

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:26:38 +0000

As comedian Lewis Black might say, “I’m confuuuused”.

According to the article, the Secretary of State believes Dann should resign, but isn’t sure if his actions rise to the level of requiring impeachment.

Shouldn’t both judgments be based on the same set of facts? If Dann’s actions or inactions in office were bad enough to warrant a call for his removal from office through resignation then they would also warrant removal from office through impeachment.

If you demand a person’s resignation, you’re saying the person is not doing the job or has made serious mistakes and should be fired.

You are giving him or her the option of honorably leaving but the underlying message is that the person should lose their job.

If the person refuses to leave, they must be fired, which in this case is done through impeachment.