Party leaders meet to discuss Dann’s fate

By STEPHEN ORAVECZ / Tribune Chronicle
Ohio Democrats already have purged Attorney General Marc Dann from the party Web site, and today they are expected to formally cast him adrift.

The party’s 154-member executive committee will meet this morning in Columbus to rescind its 2006 endorsement of Dann. It is one more step in the party’s effort to force Dann to resign in the wake of the sexual harassment scandal in his office.

However, Dann refuses to step down. His political spokesman, Jason Stanford, said Dann understands why both Democrats and Republicans are disappointed in him.

‘‘He shows up every day at work and is doing a good job to earn back their trust,’’ Stafford said.

Paul Tipps, who chaired the Ohio Democratic Party for eight years, said he believes members of the party’s Executive Committee are wrestling with how to vote Saturday on the question of rescinding their 2006 endorsement of Dann. He said he has been in discussions with many within the party, including officeholders.

‘‘I think they are aware that pouring more gas on the fire isn’t necessarily going to get them the result they want, which is a resignation,’’ Tipps said.

The main impact of the vote will be political.

Dann has not said whether he plans to run for re-election, saying he is focused on doing his job as attorney general. But without the party behind him, Dann’s ability to raise money could be drastically limited.

William Binning, retired Youngstown State University political science professor, said the move ‘‘is likely fatal to his future with that party.’’ YSU political science professor Paul Sracic said Dann’s only option in the future would be to run as an independent.

Sracic and Binning said the move is unusual.

‘‘I can’t remember a case of a political party distancing itself to this degree from an office holder,’’ Sracic said.

Binning drew some comparisons to former U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr., who was stripped of his committee assignments after he voted for a Republican to be speaker of the House.

Despite the political ramifications, the vote is largely symbolic.

Dann would legally remain a Democrat. Binning said Democrats can’t legally kick Dann out of the party under Ohio law, which bases party affiliation on the way a person votes in primary elections. Dann also will remain an elected Democrat because he won the party’s primary election.

And the vote will not affect Dann’s powers as attorney general.

Ohio’s top Democrats sent Dann a letter Sunday saying he can no longer serve effectively after three of his top aides were forced out of their jobs in the sexual harassment investigation. Dann admitted an extramarital affair, poor management and cronyism that contributed to the frat-house atmosphere of his office.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.



soravecz@tribune-chronicle.com