It’s time for Dann to get rid of Jennings


By Bertram de Souza

From the column of Jan. 7, 2007:

“The king of [Marc] Dann’s spinning circle is Leo Jennings, who sends out officious correspondence signed ‘Director of Communications.’ Jennings is not a professional journalist. Rather he is a former union official who became involved in politics by handling some local races ... He also was associated with a public relations firm in Cleveland, did assignments for the Ohio Democratic Party and then hooked up with Dann.

“Jennings is the ultimate spinner. That’s what he’s paid to do.

“The new attorney general needs to disassociate himself from Jennings. It’s only a matter of time before statewide reporters who were so enamored with Dann begin asking the question, ‘Who’s Leo Jennings?’”

From the column of April 15, 2007:

“It was bound to happen sooner or later. But this soon? Just three-and-a-half months after being sworn in as Ohio’s attorney general, Marc Dann, the Mahoning Valley’s latest claim to statewide political fame, is the subject of a news story involving contributions to his campaign.

“And while the initial details suggest that the case does not rise to the level of the pay-to-play accusations Dann, a Democrat, successfully leveled against the Republicans last year, it has the potential of snowballing because of the contributors: Manufacturers of video gaming machines that are similar to the slot machines found in casinos.”

The blog

From “Bertram’s Blog — Stirfry” on May 6, 2007:

“When Attorney General Marc Dann fired his ‘top cop’ Rick Alli for double dipping — receiving a paycheck from the state as well as the city of Youngstown — the initial announcement Friday was made by his spokesman, Leo Jennings. But as the day progressed, Dann, who still maintains his home in Liberty Township, contacted reporters to explain the action.

“It was a clear indication that the attorney general knows he has a huge political target on his back and that every misstep will become front page news — because Republicans will make sure of that. ...

“ ... The only way the attorney general can prevent his political death from a thousand cuts is by vetting his appointees the way reporters would do and forming a believable explanation for whatever skeletons may exist in their closets.

“In the alternative, Dann may want to get rid of individuals who have the potential of dragging him down.

“Whether he likes it or not, his coming from the Mahoning Valley automatically makes him suspect in the eyes of statewide reporters. This is also true for Jennings.”

From the Stirfry blog on April 8, 2008:

“Was it Victoria’s Secret?

“In detailing the sexual harassment allegations made by two female employees of the Attorney General’s Office against Anthony Gutierrez of Liberty, a political appointee of Attorney General Marc Dann’s earning $87,000 a year, The Columbus Dispatch shed light on a unique way Dann conducts official business.”

Explanation

Here’s the explanation Jennings gave to the Dispatch for why Dann’s scheduler, Jessica Utovich, would be at the condo the AG was sharing with Gutierrez and Jennings: Staffers, including Utovich, occasionally visited the condo, but only for work-related purposes: “She was there to deliver schedules.”

But what about the claim by one of the women who has accused Gutierrez of sexual harassment that Utovich was dressed in pajamas when she and Gutierrez got to the condo?

Jennings refused to comment on what the female employee alleged.

Although he has the title of communications director, Jennings is Dann’s confidante.

As such, he should have been the one to tell the AG, “No, you can’t share a condo with Gutierrez and me because it smacks of Animal House.” And, Jennings should have been the one to tell Dann, “No, you can’t have staffers, especially women, coming to the condo after work hours because your wife isn’t with you and that will trigger rumors.”

If Jennings said those things to Dann, and the attorney general ignored him, it means he does not have his boss’s ear. He must, therefore, resign.

On the other hand, if he didn’t urge Dann to avoid the pitfalls that have now resulted in a major crisis for the office, he must be fired.

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