Dann’s campaign expenses under scrutiny

The Ohio secretary of state’s office is questioning the legitimacy of several of ex-Attorney General Marc Dann’s campaign expenses.

The 10-page letter sent today to Dann seeks information on expenses including hotel stays, airfare, purchases at stores including Babies R Us and a candy store, tickets to see Ludacris at the Chevrolet Centre, utility bills, membership in the Trumbull County Bar Association, and a $33,524.76 security system at his Liberty house.

“Portions of this letter require additional information and/or explanation for expenditures made by the committee,” wrote J. Curtis Mayhew, the SOS’s campaign finance administrator, to Dann. “Some of these relate to travel paid by the [Dann for Ohio] Committee while other entries appear to be for the personal benefit of the candidate.”

In an e-mail to The Vindicator seeking comment on the letter, Dann wrote: “All campaign expenditures were made with advice of counsel and are legal. We look forward to providing the secretary of state answers to all of the issues related.”

For the complete story, see Saturday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.