What the Hell Is Wrong With Youngstown?

Everyone – Democrat and Republican alike – is publicly calling for Marc Dann’s resignation now.

Everyone except two party leaders from the Youngstown area who think he should stay.

Mahoning Democratic Chairwoman Lisa Antonini says “He’s done some great things for the state and the party” and thinks stepping down is “a decision the attorney general has to make with his family.”

Which might be a reasonable response if this wasn’t an important election year and if the only thing Dann did was cheat on his wife. But, as we’ve seen, there is so much more to it than that. And his decision not to step down doesn’t just impact his family- it impacts everyone in his office, everyone in our party and- one could argue- everyone in the State of Ohio.

At least Antonini had a reason for not calling for Dann’s resignation.

Christ Michelakis, Trumbull Democratic chairman, had no reason at all- simply saying: “He’s a local guy, and I don’t want to do that.”

When asked if that was his entire reason for not calling for Dann’s resignation, Michelakis said, “Yes.”

James Traficant was also a local guy, Mr. Michelakis. You want to bring him back too?