Strickland: Dann must go

By Julie Carr Smyth
Wire Service Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio's governor and other Democrats called Monday for the state's attorney general to resign, saying a sex scandal has compromised his ability to do the job.
Attorney General Marc Dann quickly responded with a promise to remain in office after admitting Friday to having an extramarital affair with a subordinate. The admission came after findings in an unrelated sexual harassment investigation threatened to reveal the relationship.
In a letter sent Monday, Gov. Ted Strickland joined Democratic state legislators and state officeholders in asking Dann, also a Democrat, to leave.
"The work of the Office of the Attorney General matters more, and is far more important, than any one person," the letter said. "In many, many cases it is all that stands between the people and the powerful. Sadly, we no longer have even the most remote hope that you can continue to effectively serve as Attorney General and that is why we are asking for your resignation."
Dann, who was elected in 2006, had previously conceded that his own behavior had contributed to an atmosphere in the office that permitted two junior staffers to be harassed and threatened by a friend and neighbor whom he had hired as an aide.
However, he insisted he is still capable of carrying on his work as the state's lawyer and top law enforcement officer.
"I am in the office, have rolled up my sleeves and am working on behalf of the people of State of Ohio," Dann said Monday in a written statement.
He apologized to Strickland and other Democrats for putting them in a tough position.
"But our work is too important to do anything but our jobs today," Dann said.
Dann aide Anthony Gutierrez was fired Friday after an internal investigation found his treatment of two 26-year-old employees violated sexual harassment policy. Communications Director Leo Jennings, who was accused of asking a co-worker to lie under oath, also was fired.
Ed Simpson, Dann's policy chief, opted to resign. Dann's scheduler, Jessica Utovich, 28, also resigned last week without explanation.
In his testimony during the investigation, Dann said Utovich sometimes spent the night at his apartment but declined to talk about his relationship with her specifically.

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