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Petro's choice of retired judge questioned in coin liquidation

bill kennedy / the plain dealer

Petro's choice of retired judge questioned in coin liquidation

COLUMBUS - A Youngstown-area state senator is questioning Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro about his decision to appoint a retired judge to oversee the dissolution of the state's rare coin investments.

Marc Dann (D., Liberty) believes Mr. Petro should reconsider the appointment of William Bodoh, a retired federal judge, to watch over the fund because of his ties to a Columbus law firm that typically funds Republican campaigns.

Mr. Bodoh is an attorney for Frost Brown Todd LLC.

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All of the campaign contributions from the firm's employees have gone to Republican candidates, Mr. Dann said. The firm's political action committee has distributed four-fifths of its contributions to Republicans, he said.

"In this case it is particularly important that the attorney general call on somebody not tainted by the Republican machine," Mr. Dann said. "Jim Petro must impartially choose an appointee."

Tom Noe, who was at the center of the state's rare-coin investments, is a Republican who has contributed tens of thousands of dollars to politicians. He coordinated the Bush-Cheney campaign last year in northwest Ohio and was a chairman of Ohio Supreme Court Justice Judith Lanzinger's campaign.

In a statement released yesterday, a spokesman for Mr. Petro said Judge Bodoh was chosen because of his reputation and his experience with bankruptcy.

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"Having served as a Judge for the U.S. Bankruptcy District and Appellate Courts, Judge Bodoh brings a wealth of experience and independence in fulfilling this request by our client, BWC," the statement said. "The federal Hatch Act prohibited Judge Bodoh from making any political contributions during all the years he was on the bench."

State Sen. Jeff Jacobson, a Republican from suburban Dayton, said he disagreed with Mr. Dann's request. Both senators also are attorneys.

"As a member of the bar, I think it is completely inappropriate for Senator Dann to be questioning the ethical practices of lawyers, especially those who served as judges, and I think he is crossing the line when he is suggesting there is some impropriety in the appointment of this particular judge.

"We ought to have confidence he will understand his responsibilities and carry them out appropriately," Mr. Jacobson said.

Mr. Petro made the appointment last week at the request of the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, which announced May 9 that it had decided to dissolve its $50 million investment in Mr. Noe's rare-coin funds.

The U.S. attorney's office has said it is investigating Mr. Noe for possible violations of federal campaign finance laws and reportedly is focusing on contributions made to the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2003.

In a letter to Mr. Petro, Mr. Dann asked for a list of all other law firms and potential appointees contacted or considered to oversee the liquidation process.

Ohio Inspector General Tom Charles is looking into the rare-coin deal with the state.

Mr. Bodoh served as a judge for the U.S. Bankruptcy District and Appellate Courts. He's also served as chief judge for the Northern District of Ohio.

Columbus Bureau Chief James Drew contributed to this story.

Contact Mike Wilkinson at:

mwilkinson@theblade.com

or 419-724-6104.

First Published May 17, 2005, 11:10 a.m.

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