Taft sidesteps Dann comments at ribbon cutting

YOUNGSTOWN — When a judge found then-Gov. Bob Taft guilty in August 2005 of four misdemeanor ethics violations, Marc Dann, then a state senator, had little sympathy.

With Dann resigning in disgrace as attorney general last week, Taft had the opportunity to take a shot at his former critic while in Youngstown. He was here today for a ceremony to officially open the Taft Technology Center.

Unlike the pitbull tenacity Dann showed about three years ago in criticizing the governor, Taft declined to respond in kind.

Taft said the $5.7 million center on West Federal Street is the only building named for the governor in the state.

“I’m so proud because this is the right kind of building,” he said. “It’s not just a facility. It’s a story about the rebirth and revitalization of downtown Youngstown.”

The Youngstown Business Incubator board chose to name the building for Taft because the former governor helped steer $3.5 million for the tech center, as well as state funds for other high-tech facilities in the city.

For the complete story, read Tuesday’s Vindicator or vindy.com