Why you ask? Certainly not to get ready for 2010. More likely, to run the campaign for his life, legacy, and reputation. From the Plain Dealer Politics Blog:

Dann has hired a noted Texas Democratic opposition research firm whose motto is: “We Serve Republicans. Would You Like Them Skewered, Roasted, or Deep Fried?”

Jason Stanford is president of Stanford Campaigns and Stanford Research in Austin, Texas. He said he has been hired by Dann to do the attorney general’s talking when it comes political matters not related to his state job.

So just who is Jason Stanford good citizens? He’s primarily an opposition researcher/political consultant who seems willing to say or do anything to win – he’ll fit in great with the Ohio crowd.

Most recently Mr. Stanford has been mentioned in a small legal dust up as part of a city council race down in Austin, TX. Stanford is named in a story about a complaint that alleges he was involved in potentially illegal campaign activity. You can see the most recent article from the Austin American Statesman right here. It’s an interesting article, and really hits upon the critical issue of transparency in public life. A second article, also from the Austin American Statesman quotes Mr. Stanford extolling the virtues of transparency when it comes to campaign communications….hmmm, do we think this is the same Jason Stanford….kind of like Marc Dann who pledged to bring back government Ohioans could be proud of again…you can see how they might work well together.

Probably most importantly though, is that it appears Stanford’s firm has some real experience managing high profile legal problems for political figures – case in point Mauricio Celis. Who is Mauricio Celis you ask? We’ll let the San Antonio Express News tell you:

For years, Mauricio Celis has enjoyed all the trappings of a successful South Texas lawyer, from a private jet and exotic cars like Ferraris and Bentleys, to a spacious downtown office with a sweeping view of the marina.

Owner of a law firm that regularly refers high-dollar cases to the city’s most powerful litigators, Celis developed a reputation as a generous player, handing out fat checks to Democratic candidates, hosting fundraisers and serving on the board of Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi.

Born in Mexico, raised in Rockport, educated in Monterrey, Mexico, and for a while apparently in the air-conditioning business, Celis seemed a South Texas version of the classic American success story.

But the story line took a bad turn on Sept. 28, when Thomas Henry, a Corpus Christi lawyer, appeared on a local television station and denounced Celis, 35, as a fraud.

“Mauricio Celis with the law firm of CGT Law Group International does not have a law license in the state of Texas nor does he have a license to practice law anywhere in the world,” announced Henry in the paid TV spot.

“If you have hired this law firm, you may be entitled to a refund of all the attorneys fees paid. Contact me immediately,” he said.

So read the whole story and you’ll find that Jason Stanford’s client is a flamboyant character with a dubious legal background and penchant for flashing badges in his bathrobe.

At any rate – for now – there’s some background on Marc Dann’s newest hire. Something for you enterprising bloggers out there to figure out is this – who put Stanford and Dann together for this adventure? Was it a generous Texas donor with ties to Marc Dann or his allies?

Oh, and one last thought. Take a look at Jason Stanford’s references on his company’s website – it’s an impressive list including contact information (in case it changes in the immediate future you can see it right there -> Stanford References). Among the notables – several Chiefs of Staff for Democrat members of Congress – including their taxpayer funded office phone numbers (Stanford must’ve been doing government work for those clients), one member of Congress – again with the Hill phone number, and not a campaign number, and last but not least a former Texas Governor who also just happens to be dead – lucky for us though Jason has her phone number in the great beyond. Now that’s the kind of attention to detail you want from your opposition researcher/crisis manager. Talk about a technologically advanced political consulting firm!

Find, spin, win?

UPDATE: The Ohio Blogs are picking up on the story. How much longer until the dirty details of Dann’s Spin Doctor come out?