Taft has no comment on Dann scandal

By David Skolnick

The ex-governor wouldn’t talk about Marc Dann, his former critic.

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.

Dann, then one of Taft’s most vocal critics, told The Dispatch that if the governor “were truly sorry, he would have admitted what he did wrong and pleaded guilty.”

Taft had pleaded no contest to the charges.

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 Monday for a ceremony to officially open the Taft Technology Center.

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

In the span of 75 seconds, the local media asked Taft to comment on Dann four separate times.

Answer No. 1: “I didn’t come to Youngstown to talk about the state of Ohio. I’m really here to talk about the future of Youngstown, which is very fine, indeed.”

Answer No. 2: “I’m just here to talk about the state of Ohio. I’m no longer governor.”

Answer No. 3: “I’m just here today to talk about how exciting it is that a new tech incubator is now providing jobs for Youngstown here in the heart of the city. ... This is a day to celebrate. It’s not a day to talk about the past or to talk about state government or what might have happened.”

Taft was told he had discussed the center’s success and there are those interested in what he has to say about Dann.

Answer No. 4 was: “I know, I know. Thank you.”

During Dann’s campaign for attorney general in 2006, he ran largely on a platform of cleaning up a “culture of corruption” in state government, then led by Republicans.

Dann pointed to the governor’s office as a place where “crime ran rampant” during his Nov. 14, 2005, announcement that he was running for attorney general.

Dann sued Taft to release a variety of documents related to an investment scandal at the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.

For Taft, life is a little quieter today.

Taft works at the University of Dayton as a distinguished research associate teaching classes and doing research. He and his wife, Hope, live in a Dayton suburb.

“I’m enjoying my job,” he said.

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.

The center is across the street from the George V. Voinovich Government Center, named for the current U.S. senator who served eight years as governor immediately before Taft.

When asked if he’d like to see a downtown technology building named after current Gov. Ted Strickland, Taft said, “That would be great. I’m sure Gov. Strickland cares about the future of Youngstown.”

skolnick@vindy.com