Dann
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) — Although the man who hired him is no longer his boss, Craig Mehall continues to serve as the nation’s only lobbyist representing a state attorney general in Washington, D.C.
When hired in May 2007 by former Ohio AG Marc Dann, who was forced to resign last month amid a sexual harassment scandal, among other things, Mehall became the country’s only full-time Washington liaison. With Dann out of office, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland named Nancy H. Rogers Ohio’s top lawyer on May 21 until Ohioans elect someone else to complete the remaining two years on Dann’s term.
Despite having a new boss, “My focus hasn’t changed at all,” Mehall told LegalNewsline.com in a recent telephone interview.
That focus, he said, is to “bring money to the state and watch legislation that would affect the Ohio Attorney General.”
With the Capitol Building, rather than the Ohio Statehouse the epicenter of his lobbying efforts, Mehall never did have much interaction with Dann’s Columbus office.
But some might find it surprising that Mehall has yet to speak with his new boss.
“I haven’t spoken with Attorney General Rogers as yet,” he said. “I think they’re focused on the office at home.”
In light of the various scandals surrounding Dann’s 17-month tenure as Ohio AG, was Mehall ever worried about the security of his $98,000 a year job?
“I wasn’t more concerned than anyone else,” he said.