Portune asked about AG job

UPDATED. Here's the Plain Dealer's list of possible replacements. Portune is not listed.

Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune said he was approached over the weekend asking if he would be interested in Marc Dann's job.

He wouldn't specify who the phone calls came from - whether they were state officials or local officials. He did say though, that some were from people in positions of influence.

"I said I didn't know if I would be (interested) or not," said Portune, a Democrat who is up for re-election in November.

Since then, the Ohio Democrats issued an ultimatum to Dann: resign or be impeached. Portune said it would "be better for the state of Ohio if he would step down at this point," but wanted to make clear that he's not saying that because he wants Dann's job.

"I believe I would be a good attorney general and would do the job very well, but I also know this is a very critical time for Hamilton County," he said, referring to unfinished work on the budget, The Banks, the environment, infant mortality, the sewer district and economic development.

"There is so much important stuff going on in the county level right now that I think it would be a tough sell for me to consider the attorney general's position."

Meanwhile, Hamilton County Democratic Party Chairman Tim Burke, who is out of town on business declined to name names of any potentials to fill Dann's shoes.

"I don't know who's being talked about," he said. "We've got some great Democrats down here. This one would have to be a lawyer." He said it's premature to be naming potential replacements.

As for the ultimatum letter, here's what they had to say.

Burke: "I'm exceptionally disappointed to the events that brought us to this point. It's not going to be possible for him to stay."

He said Dann's scandals have damaged the reputation of the office, and could damage the reputation of the Democrats. "that's what all our other major office holders are saying. They don't want the problems created by one person's misconduct to affect the party."

Portune: "I would just urge that he seriously consider withdrawing for the good of the state."


Pepper: "I think it’s best for everyone that we have an attorney general that can focus on the job of attorney general not these other things. I was glad to see the letter and glad it came out quickly. As I said before, I didn’t think the clean up job could be done with him in office."

Pepper said he hopes Dann resigns before he is impeached. “This just isn’t going to work. Hopefully as days go by he will see this. We need the full attention paid to issues every day like crime and consumer practices and mortgage fraud and you name it. Not dealing with these sorts of issues. I hope it doesn’t come to impeachment.”