Dann says he'd welcome a race against Montgomery

The Mahoning County treasurer has a primary opponent for state auditor.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- State Sen. Marc Dann, a Democratic candidate for Ohio attorney general, says he's "thrilled" with the prospect of facing Ohio Auditor Betty Montgomery in the November general election.
Meanwhile, Mahoning County Treasurer John Reardon of Boardman, won't have the free ride in the Democratic primary for state auditor that he had hoped for.
State Rep. Barbara Sykes of Akron, D-44th, previously announced plans to retire from politics when her Ohio House term expired at the end of this year. But on Tuesday, she jumped into the Democratic auditor primary.
"Many Democrats will be somewhat frustrated with Rep. Sykes' announcement because primaries force Democratic down-ticket candidates to spend a lot of money," said Reardon, who is confident he'll win the May primary.
Montgomery announced Tuesday that she is dropping out of the Republican gubernatorial primary and will instead run for attorney general, a position she held for eight years before her 2002 election as state auditor.
Dann's reaction
"The Republicans are doing their part to bring down the unemployment rate in Ohio by finding Betty a public job," said Dann of Liberty, D-32nd. "She can't get a job in the private sector because she's been involved with the corruption in Columbus. She's part of the pay-to-play mentality."
Dann, who's been outspoken about various political scandals involving Republicans on the state level, would face Montgomery in the general election if both can survive their party's May primaries.
Montgomery said she doesn't overlook any opponent and said facing Dann will be a "tough" challenge.
Feb. 16 is the filing deadline for the primary. Dann and Subodh Chandra, a former Cleveland law director and ex-assistant U.S. prosecutor, are the only announced Democratic candidates for the AG position.
Chandra said Montgomery "looked the other way while her friends looted state government."
State Sen. Timothy Grendell of Chesterland, R-18th, and Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien had announced their candidacies for the attorney general position before Montgomery's Tuesday announcement.
O'Brien was quoted by the Associated Press as saying he was remaining in the race.
Other reaction
Grendell will stay in the race as well, saying, "Betty Montgomery's personal employment needs have outweighed the needs of the people of Ohio."
"Attorney general shouldn't be a consolation prize for a candidate who can't win the gubernatorial race," he said.
Montgomery said she was "somewhat surprised" by Grendell's comments, but "each of us handle our unhappiness differently. I think we're better than that. The attorney general job isn't a consolation prize. I love that job."
Montgomery told The Vindicator a month ago that she was in the governor's race to stay. "There is nothing that will get me out of the race at this point. I'm in. I've thought a lot about this," she said.
She admitted last month and Tuesday that raising money for the gubernatorial race was a struggle.
Montgomery said her polling showed her trailing Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell and Attorney General Jim Petro for her party's nomination for governor.
Montgomery said her polling showed she was competitive and could win the race if she aggressively attacked Blackwell and Petro, but she didn't want to run a campaign that way.
Also, a bitter primary would hurt the primary victor's chance of winning the general election, Montgomery said.
Petro endorsed Montgomery for attorney general. Blackwell said he looked forward to having Montgomery "somewhere on the November ticket." Montgomery isn't prepared to endorse either candidate.
Petro is urging Montgomery's supporters to get behind his candidacy, said Bob Paduchik, his campaign chairman.
Petro said in November to The Vindicator that if Montgomery got out of the race, he'd beat Blackwell.
Gene Pierce, Blackwell's spokesman, said Petro also should quit the race.
Montgomery said her staff is divided on which candidate benefits from her departure.
Surprised
As for Reardon, he was somewhat surprised that Sykes is running for state auditor in the May primary. Reardon said Sykes' late entry in to the race, about three weeks before the filing deadline, gives him an advantage.
Reardon has campaigned in about 50 of the state's 88 counties, raised more than $200,000 for his campaign, and has about $100,000 on hand.
On her last financial report, filed July 31, 2005, Sykes reported about $4,000 cash on hand.
In November, Sykes said she was leaving politics. On Tuesday, Sykes said she changed her mind because someone with "courage and experience" needs to serve as state auditor to fight the corruption in Columbus.
Sykes, a three-term Ohio House member, is head of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, and is a former Summit County deputy auditor/administrator and Akron councilwoman.
Ohio Democrats have repeatedly stated the party wanted a ticket with diversity. Sykes is the first black and the second female candidate running for a statewide seat as a Democrat.
skolnick@vindy.com