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Former U.S. Attorney Steve Dettelbach announces candidacy for Ohio Attorney General
YOUNGSTOWN
Former U.S. attorney Steve Dettelbach is the latest to announce his candidacy for Ohio attorney general.
Dettelbach – who will run as a Democrat – has been a lawyer for 25 years and spent more than two decades as a prosecutor, including as the U.S. attorney for the northern district of Ohio.
This is the first elected office Dettelbach has pursued.
“It’s my first election, but not my first time running a major office or acting as a public servant,” Dettelbach told The Vindicator. “I’ve been doing both for the majority of my career.”
Dettelbach said he has prosecuted a variety of cases dealing with issues ranging from drug and human trafficking to terrorism, corruption and opioid abuse.
During his time overseeing the northern district of Ohio, Dettelbach established the Ohio Opioid Task Force, which brought law-enforcement, legal, medical and social-service professionals together to jointly address the opioid crisis in Ohio.
“We’re not going to be able to arrest our way out of this problem,” Dettelbach said. “This problem didn’t begin as a law-enforcement problem, so finding a solution shouldn’t be laid solely at their feet.”
Despite running as a Democrat, Dettelbach describes himself as an independent when it comes to matters of government corruption.
“I’ve prosecuted Democrats and Republicans both,” Dettelbach said. “People need to fight to ensure that the rules are fairly applied across the board to everyone. I’ve spent my career doing that.”
Dettelbach is originally from Cleveland.
Republican State Auditor Dave Yost announced his candidacy in January. Yost served as Delaware County prosecutor for eight years before becoming the state auditor.