New book on Voinovich’s legacy

Few politicians have modeled civic leadership and innovation more than the late George Voinovich, AB ’58, LLD ’81, who served as mayor of Cleveland, governor of Ohio, and U.S. senator. His Empowering the Public-Private Partnership: The Future of America’s Local Government, published in August 2017 by Ohio University Press, is a practical and inspiring handbook for government officials facing shrinking resources and growing needs.

Among Voinovich’s greatest legacies is the 1980s “Cleveland Turnaround,” when he steered the city from economic crisis to success. Voinovich relied on public-private partnerships, or P3s, whereby governments partner with the private sector and create sustainable local economies.

“Voinovich believed that every mayor across America would find the Cleveland experience instructive, spurring them to leverage community assets,” says Ohio University Press Director Gillian Berchowitz. “He also stressed the need for respect and labor’s role in creating a stronger economic base through a commitment to continuous improvement.”

The Press and OHIO’s Voinovich School for Leadership and Public Affairs worked together to publish the book after Voinovich’s sudden passing in 2016. The Voinovich School’s Professor Geoffrey Dabelko first brought the project to Berchowitz’s attention, and Founding Dean Mark Weinberg and Professors Jason Jolley and Michael J. Zimmer provided support.

The Ohio University Press also turned to those who knew Voinovich best to keep the book aligned with his vision. Longtime adviser and Governor Voinovich’s budget director R. Gregory Browning, BGS ’72, co-wrote the introduction with former Cleveland City Planning Commission Director Hunter Morrison, who worked closely with Voinovich. Browning says P3s are more applicable now than ever.

“The bottom line is, in this book, you’re getting a master public sector leader writing about an important subject that is urgently relevant today.”