Thursday, May 08, 2008
Dann Hires Personal Spokesperson
I just got off the phone with Jason Stanford, the newly-hired spokesperson for Marc Dann. Stanford is considered a campaign worker, and his focus will be to address media inquiries about the turmoil in the Attorney General’s office and the calls for Dann’s impeachment. Dann has not made himself available for an interview, has cancelled his public appearances this week, and Stanford could not say when Dann will be willing to talk to the media again. I asked him if Dann had any reaction to the impeachment discussion, and Stanford said Dann “understands where (the sentiment) is coming from.” I followed up by asking whether Dann is asking not to be impeached. Stanford said Dann isn’t asking for anything. He’s not arguing with those who want him out of office. In Stanford’s words, “he’s focusing on the job of Attorney General...spending all of his time at the office trying to earn back their trust.”
Stanford works as a political consultant for a variety of campaigns helping with communications and with opposition research. He assured me he is not performing any “opposition” research as it may apply to an intra-party dispute over Dann’s decision not to resign. Part of the case he’s making is that “no one has ever said anything bad about about the legal work inside the Attorney General’s office.” He contends that Dann is committed to fixing the administrative problems from the inside, and is utilizing Jim Friedman, former chief of staff to Governor John Gilligan, as the man who will come in from the outside to help lead a “second transition” and examine the effectiveness of the management.
A good read on the arguments for and against impeachment come from Columbus Dispatch reporters Alan Johnson and James Nash. Johnson lays out the case for removing Dann from office, while Nash takes on the assignment of defending Dann from impeachment.
Dann also plans to formally request an independent review of Ben Espy’s investigation. That will happen as early as Monday.
