Of the 151 lawyers green-lighted by Dann as part of a new process designed to end "pay-to-play" in the awarding of legal contracts, 51 have given to Dann's campaigns for state Senate and attorney general, according to information provided by the attorney general's office this week. Their political contributions to Dann, a Democrat, total $29,814. (The Columbus Dispatch, 7/14/07)
As Attorney General Marc Dann worked to settle a long-running lawsuit against a South Carolina company that wants to expand gambling in Ohio, the company's executives hosted a January fundraiser that netted Dann at least $7,750 from gambling interests. About four months later, Dann and the company settled the lawsuit. Dann's office agreed to certify certain of the company's wagering machines as legal -- a reversal of his predecessors' staunch opposition to gambling. (The Columbus Dispatch, 8/1/07)
Dann campaigned last year as a populist reformer who vowed to end "pay to play" politics, but shortly after taking office accepted $7,500 from gambling interests involved in an ongoing lawsuit against the state. He insisted on having an SUV as his official state vehicle, and didn't see any conflict in using $40,000 in state funds to buy one from a campaign contributor. (Bedford Times Register, Editorial, 11/18/07)