Ohio congressional hopefuls swift to rebuke attorney general

By JULIE CARR SMYTH Associated Press Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - As a sex scandal involving Ohio's attorney general becomes the butt of national jokes, 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, 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 Dann has rejected calls from Gov. Ted Strickland and other political leaders that he voluntarily step down or face impeachment. Republican House Speaker Jon Husted has requested that an independent investigator be appointed to help legislators probe whether Dann has committed any impeachable offenses.

"Sexual harassment can't be tolerated," Kilroy said in one of the first public statements released after 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 Kilroy felt strongly about the harassment uncovered at Dann's office, and said party loyalty didn't matter.

"Sometimes you have to have a little moral courage, stand on principle and do what's right," Borntrager said.

For Boccieri, who hails from Dann's native Mahoning Valley, the issue has been trickier.

Boccieri's initial public statements on Friday were sympathetic to 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 Strickland, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern - spent much of Sunday trying to persuade Dann to resign.

By Monday, after those efforts had failed, Boccieri was characterizing Dann's conduct as an outrage.

"I ... regret the embarrassment his conduct and the conduct of certain members of his staff have caused for the Mahoning Valley and all of northeast Ohio," Boccieri's said, issuing his own call for Dann's resignation. "The people of this region, having endured a parade of self-serving public officials, are disappointed that our first chance in a long time to shine has been mired by the behavior of Marc Dann and key officials within his office."

Republicans, eager to retain the 16th District seat held since 1973 by retiring U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula, accused Boccieri of flip-flopping.

"John Boccieri flipped so quickly on Marc Dann, it's enough to give you whiplash," John McClelland, the Ohio Republican Party spokesman, said in a statement.

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 Dann the benefit of the doubt.

"I've been very clear about my position: I think he should resign," Boccieri said. "Ultimately I hope the race for Congress is about issues and ideas and not insults."