Pepper for AG?

UPDATE:

Tim Burke told the Enquirer today that the other name he gave the governor’s office was that of Commission President Todd Portune.

"What I have said consistently is there are two people down here who could do this job and do it well and that’s Todd Portune and David Pepper." He didn’t know whether Portune is being considered by the governor or not.

"The AP said Pepper was one of them. They gave four names. I’m not even sure if there is a list of four people. I do know that David has developed a very good relationship with the governor because they’ve both been campaigning very hard for Hillary (Clinton)."

Commissioner David Pepper told the Enquirer he doesn’t know much about the process and said it would be premature to comment on whether he’d be interested in the job.

"If someone put my name out, I’m honored, but I don’t know anything more about it. I’ve spent my day doing county business. I really like what I do and where I am and the county’s got a lot of issues to focus on. At this point everything else is speculation. I think the governor’s handled the situation very well and I think he’ll make the best decision."



The Associated Press has this story:

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A longtime county prosecutor in Dayton and a Hamilton County commissioner are on a list of potential Democratic replacements for former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann.

Mat Heck, Montgomery County prosecutor since 1992, told The Associated Press Monday that he is being considered by Gov. Ted Strickland. David Pepper, a Hamilton County Commissioner since 2006, is also in the mix, said Hamilton County Democratic Party Chairman Tim Burke and a Democratic state lawmaker with knowledge of the governor’s deliberations. ...

Pepper said he didn’t know whether he was on the list and didn’t have much to say on it.

“I think the governor has responded well (to the Dann scandal) and I think he’ll make the decision that’s best,” said Pepper, whose father was a former chief executive of Proctor & Gamble Co. and currently serves as chairman of the board of the Walt Disney Co.

Burke was asked by the governor’s staff to make suggestions for possible replacements for Dann. Of the two names Burke gave the governor’s staff, Pepper’s was the one they focused on, he said.

“He’s somebody who has an excellent relationship with the governor,” Burke said. “He has impressed the governor. He’s one hell of a hard worker.”

Dann resigned Wednesday under threat of impeachment. On May 2 he admitted to an extramarital affair with a subordinate that he said contributed to an atmosphere that led to sexual harassment complaints against a top aide in his office.

Strickland’s office will not discuss candidates for his replacement. However, Strickland said earlier Monday that he has spoken about the job with another person whose name has figured prominently in discussions of who would replace Dann – state Treasurer Richard Cordray.

Strickland said he had talked with Cordray because he is part of the inner circle of statewide Democratic officials he consults, but also about taking the job. He emphasized he has been talking to others as well.

“We are looking at a large number of individuals, their qualifications and their experiences,” Strickland said. “I am in an information gathering period of time right now.”

Strickland said he had not yet decided whether to appoint an interim attorney general and have someone else run in a November election to replace Dann, or to have the replacement he appoints also run as a candidate.

Cordray has declined interview requests to talk about the attorney general job.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason is also being considered. Spokesman Ryan Miday said Monday he did not know whether Mason had spoken with Strickland or his staff about the job, but said it would “be an honor” for the governor to consider him.