Elections Commission Disciplines Dann

NBC 4: Former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann was ready to respond to allegations that he misused campaign contributions and filed false information. Dann was one of several Democrats swept into office in 2006 after a scandal over state investments sullied Republicans. He resigned last May over a sexual-harassment scandal involving a top aide in his office, Anthony Gutierrez.

Dann sat quietly Thursday as the Ohio Elections Commission listened to hours of testimony regarding the misuse of campaign funds during his time in office. After a four-month investigation, Inspector General Tom Charles said in December that Dann misused campaign funds to make lavish payments to friends and family. He also accused Dann of filing incomplete, inaccurate and false information about his expenditures.

Both Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and the Inspector General’s office filed formal complaints with the commission late last year, saying Dann used campaign money to finance improvements to his home and personal cell phones among other things. Attorneys for the Secretary of State argued Dann spent more than $40,000 of campaign funds to pay for a state-of-the-art security system in his home, calling the use of funds neither ordinary or necessary for a state officeholder.

Attorneys for SOS also testified Dann used a cell phone for personal reasons without reimbursing the campaign committee. Dann denied all allegations and asked for the case be dismissed. Dann’s attorney Don McTigue said there was no wrongdoing. Dann paid for personal cell use, and campaign funds were used for campaign purposes, McTigue said.

Dann’s attorneys also said Dann thought it was better to pay for upgraded security through campaign funds instead of taxpayers’ monies after threats were made on his life. OEC commissioners found Dann to be in violation of state election law for both the security system and cell-phone use Thursday afternoon.

Commissioners decided Dann was to be penalized with a $1,000 fine and a public reprimand for the security system and a public reprimand only for the cell-phone allegations. These penalties were based only on Brunner’s complaint.

The commissioners will continue the hearing at 2:15 p.m. in regards to the Inspector General’s accusations. The commission declined to send either violation to the county prosecutor.