Dems select Dann for seat

The incoming state senator was 'momentarily deterred' when he failed to get the seat two years ago.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
COLUMBUS -- Some 10-year-old boys dream of being superheroes, firefighters or astronauts.
Marc E. Dann dreamed of being a politician -- specifically, a state senator.
That dream came true Tuesday for the 40-year-old Liberty attorney. The 10-member Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus unanimously selected him over three other candidates to fill the unexpired term of Tim Ryan in the 32nd Senate District. Ryan of Niles is leaving the state Senate in early January for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Dann will be sworn in Jan. 6.
"I'm like a kid in a candy store," Dann said only minutes after finding out he was appointed to the job. "I've wanted to be a state senator since I was 10."
Career history
Politics has been Dann's passion.
As a 16-year-old, he participated in Boys State, an American Legion-sponsored political leadership program that held mock elections among its members; Dann was elected president of the Ohio Senate.
Dann was a delegate for Jimmy Carter at the Democratic National Convention in 1980, and worked on the successful Ohio House campaign of Lee Fisher that same year. He served as Gary Hart's presidential campaign coordinator in 1984 in Indiana, Illinois and Missouri.
Dann served in 1986 as then-Gov. Richard Celeste's re-election coordinator for Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana and Ashtabula counties. He served as Mary Boyle's campaign coordinator for her failed 1998 U.S. Senate campaign.
In 2000, Dann ran for office for the first time, finishing third in a seven-person Democratic primary for the 32nd Senate District race, losing to Ryan.
"I was momentarily deterred" after the defeat, Dann said. "But I knew I would run for office again."
Dann didn't wait long. He ran in 2001 for a seat on the Liberty Board of Education, and was the top vote-getter. He will resign that position shortly.
When it appeared as though Ryan's congressional bid was going to be successful -- thus creating the state Senate vacancy -- Dann quickly positioned himself to take his place. Dann lobbied Democratic state senators, and contributed money to the caucus and individual members.
Support
He had the distinction of being the only candidate recommended for the seat by Democrats in Trumbull and Ashtabula counties. The two counties make up the 32nd District, with Trumbull voters outnumbering their Ashtabula counterparts 3-1 in the district.
He finished first among Trumbull Democratic committee members, who voted two weeks ago for their top three choices. His 83 votes was more than the two nearest challengers received combined. Warren Councilman Dan Polivka received 38 votes and Girard Councilman John Moliterno picked up 19 votes.
The other challenger was Joseph J. Varckette, a former Ashtabula city manager, the top choice of Ashtabula County Democrats.
Moliterno was seen as Dann's most-serious challenger because of his business and political experience as well as his close ties to Anthony Cafaro and Bruce Zoldan, two prominent political donors in the Mahoning Valley, who lobbied for his appointment.
Although disappointed with the results, Moliterno said he would consider running for the Senate seat in 2004, the year Dann's appointed term expires. Polivka said he was honored to be among the three finalists from Trumbull, and could run for the seat in two years.
Dann, who will continue practicing law, said he will work hard over the next year-plus to prove he deserves to be elected in 2004. He expects challengers for the Democratic nomination, but does not anticipate a crowded field.
Priorities
As for his priorities, Dann said he will concentrate on reforming the state's education funding system, strengthening the rights of workers, a prescription drug plan for senior citizens, and working to obtain state funding for the Mahoning Valley.
"If [Democrats] get the opportunity to clearly communicate these issues, in the near future, in the 10 years I'll be allowed to serve, we'll regain the majority" in the Senate, Dann said.
Senate Minority Leader Greg DiDonato said Dann "will be a strong asset to the Democratic Caucus.
Democratic leaders used three criteria in recommending a candidate to the full 10-member caucus: could he do the job, could he raise money once appointed and could he be elected.
"The conclusion was that Marc Dann at this point in time probably would be the best candidate," DiDonato said.
Republicans will outnumber Democrats in the state Senate, beginning next month, 22 to 11.
skolnick@vindy.com
XContributor: Jeff Ortega, Vindicator correspondent