Dann’s lack of judgment on public display — again

When he resigned in disgrace as Ohio’s attorney general, Marc Dann acknowledged that his extramarital affair with his then-scheduler, Jessica Utovich, reflected a lack of judgment on his part. Likewise, he said, his failure to stop his top managers from fraternizing with lower-level employees also showed poor judgment.

Yet, just about a month after he stepped down as the state’s chief lawyer rather than face an impeachment trial in the Ohio Senate, Dann attended a two-day meeting last week of the National Association of Attorneys General in Providence, R.I. His participation was as a new member of the Society of Attorneys General Emeriti (SAGE).

One of the things that SAGE members do is offer advice and wisdom to their successors, according to a Cleveland Plain Dealer story that was published in Thursday’s Vindicator.

Advice and wisdom from a man who has admitted that he was ill prepared to be Ohio’s top lawyer? Advice and wisdom for his successor, Nancy Rogers, who is the dean of the school of law at Ohio State University? What an inflated sense of self importance.

Why would Dann have even considered attending the conference? The answer: A lack of judgment, coupled with unmitigated arrogance.

The Liberty Township resident who was in the Ohio Senate when he ran for the statewide office in 2006 is the target of several investigations that have grown out of the sexual harassment complaints filed by two employees of the AG’s office against Anthony Gutierrez.

Close friend and neighbor

Gutierrez was the head of general services and was a close friend and neighbor of Dann’s. He was accused of sexually harassing two employees who worked for him, and was ultimately fired by Dann.

An internal investigation into the complaint revealed other personnel-related problems in the office. They have triggered more probes. In addition, Dann is the target of federal and state investigators.

With all this going on, you would think that the former attorney general would choose to keep a low profile and work on putting his private life in order, as he told reporters he intended to do.

But, his showing up at the summer meeting of the National Association of Attorneys General suggests that he is either in deep denial about the seriousness of what occurred during his 16-month tenure in office, or truly believes that people are interested in what he has to say about his experience as attorney general.

We would point out that Dann has now joined the ranks of public officials who have brought shame to the Mahoning Valley, not only because of their wrongdoing while in office, but because they have chosen to continue living in this area.

They are constant reminders of the Valley’s putrid political history.

Because of the way he conducted himself as attorney general, Dann has made it difficult for any other Valley politician to win statewide office. That’s his legacy.