COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — As a sex scandal involving Ohio’s attorney general becomes a national punchline, Democratic congressional candidates who will face the state’s voters this fall are scrambling to distance themselves from him.
Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy and state Sen. John Boccieri, who are in two of the nation’s most closely watched congressional contests, were among the first to call for Attorney General Marc Dann’s resignation.
On Friday, Mr. Dann admitted to an extramarital affair with an employee after an internal sexual-harassment investigation against an aide threatened to reveal the relationship. The Democrat also conceded that he managed his office poorly during his first year, engaged in cronyism and set an example that promoted the aide’s harassment and threats against two 26-year-old female staffers.
Three aides were fired or forced to resign, but Mr. Dann has rejected calls from Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, and other political leaders that he voluntarily step down or face impeachment. House Speaker Jon Husted, a Republican, has requested that an independent investigator be appointed to help legislators probe whether Mr. Dann committed any impeachable offenses.
“Sexual harassment can’t be tolerated,” Miss Kilroy said in one of the first public statements released after Mr. Dann’s revelations. “As a mother of two daughters … I am appalled that those in power would abuse their authority in such a shameful way. Marc Dann should resign, and he should do so quickly.”
Campaign manager Randy Borntrager said Miss Kilroy felt strongly about the harassment uncovered at Mr. Dann’s office and said party loyalty doesn’t matter.
“Sometimes you have to have a little moral courage, stand on principle and do what’s right,” Mr. Borntrager said.
For Mr. Boccieri, who hails from Mr. Dann’s native Mahoning Valley, the issue has been trickier.
Mr. Boccieri’s initial public statements on Friday were sympathetic to Mr. Dann, indicating that the attorney general — a surprise victor in the 2006 elections — appeared to be grappling with a personal matter.
Top state Democrats — including Mr. Strickland, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern — spent much of Sunday trying to persuade Mr. Dann to resign.
By Monday, after those efforts failed, Mr. Boccieri was characterizing Mr. Dann’s conduct as an outrage.
Republicans, eager to retain the 16th District seat held since 1973 by retiring U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula, accused Mr. Boccieri of flip-flopping.
“John Boccieri flipped so quickly on Marc Dann, it’s enough to give you whiplash,” said John McClelland, the Ohio Republican Party spokesman.
Mr. Boccieri said he gave the first statement to a reporter before he had heard details of the case and was trying at the time to give Mr .Dann the benefit of the doubt.
“I’ve been very clear about my position: I think he should resign,” Mr. Boccieri said. “Ultimately I hope the race for Congress is about issues and ideas and not insults.”
Please read our comment policy before commenting.