Who Are the Board Members of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce?
by Max
American Electric Power dropped its membership today in the Ohio Chamber of Commerce over their decision to endorse the closet Libertarian John Kasich. This is good news, but I wondered who else is part of the leadership of the Chamber? The other story is that the Chamber also decided to support a bunch of other candidates from the Corporate Party.
Current Chairman of the Board is the CEO of The Gorman-Rupp Co. -- A pumps manufacturer for for municipal, water, wastewater, sewage, industrial, construction petroleum, and fire stations and other markets in Mansfield. This seems strange that a company that depends on government would support a candidate who hates government like Kasich.
Chairman-Elect is the President Hondros College is a private two year technical school in Westerville Ohio. I hope that they do not rely on any public dollars with Kasich's pledge to not raise taxes to fund government operations. And they better hope Strickland does not win, because pay-back is a bitch. The Ohio Chamber Treasurer is a partner the accounting firm Plante & Moran PLLC. They are the 11th largest public accounting and management consulting firm in the United States. With 215 partners and affiliated entity members, more than 1,500 staff, and a network of 17 offices, they depend on giving advice. This was the firm jailed fundraiser for the Corporate Party Tom Noe turned to to examine his records. Again, a firm that depends on government contracts, but supports a candidate that hates government. Very Strange. Two of the three leaders should not support the guy who wants to reduce the size of government.
Other Members include:
Insurance Companies including: State Auto Insurance Company (Columbus); Grange Insurance Company (Columbus); Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Indianapolis); Delta Dental Plans of Ohio (Lansing); Nationwide Insurance Enterprise (Columbus); Westfield Group (Australia); Ohio Health which claims to be a not-for profit faith based health care outlet, but I guess they feel that a Corporate party member will be the most likely to provide comprehensive healthcare to Ohioans. Finally, there is a rep. from Integrity Group (North Carolina) which is an insurance and financial services company. So since the government regulates all these firms it makes sense that they would want the guy who hates government to win. Plus, these firms do not want the implementation of the health care reform passed by the federal government but implemented at the state level. So, that is 8 votes for Kasich.
Law Firms include: Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur; Day Ketterer Ltd.; Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, LLP; Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, LLP; McDonald Hopkins, LLC; Lagos and Lagos PLL in Springfield; Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP; Taylor, Applegate, Hughes and Associates LTD. I don't understand why any of the law firms would support the guy who hates lawyers because they sue the government. Also, they often take on contract work on behalf of the state, but it is certainly true that the state under the corporate Taft party hired way more private lawyers then the current administration. If Kasich wins, law firms may have to defend against tort reform in which the state limits punitive damages. Should be 8 votes for Strickland.
Telecommunication Companies, AT&T, Verizon, Time Warner Cable--all companies regulated. Obviously these are regulated utilities and would want the Corporate party to win. 3 for Kasich.
Banks: Park National Bank, Huntington Bancshares, Inc. Two banks who screwed up the financial system in the 2000s because there was no sheriff in town. They obviously want to return to the unregulated times--2 for Kasich.
Energy Companies include: Duke Energy, FirstEnergy Service Corp, Buckeye Industrial Mining Company, Columbia Gas of Ohio. Again, all regulated industries that would want a weak governor to relax all regulations and get rid of the people workers who watch over their shoulders. 4 for Kasich.
Multinationals: Honda of America, Procter & Gamble Co., Timken Company, Wendy's International. Timken and Procter and Gamble are a big time Corporate Party member helping to fund many elections for the people who hate government. Honda is not an American company and should not be involved in our elections. The others would seem to want to side that will improve the economy so that their sales go up. It is true that business conditions improve with Democrats in charge. So, that is 2 for Kasich, and 1 company that should shut up.
Building and Trades Groups: Logan Clay Products (Logan Ohio)--Another company that specifically references municipal governments on the front of their website, but they support the anti-government candidate. Solmet Technologies (Canton) blacksmithing (is that still a profession?), open die and machining company. I am sure they don't do any government funding. Caster Connections (Columbus), and Fort Recovery Industries (Ft Recovery Ohio)-- manufacturing and casting. All of these companies have to do business with government, and so it seems like they would not want government to dramatically shrink. These should be 4 votes for Strickland.
Multinationals with headquarters outside Ohio: Glatfelter (York, PA)--a book and paper company. United Parcel Services (Georgia), Campbell Soup Company (Camden NJ); Eastman Kodak Co (New York); Alcoa (Pittsburgh); General Electric (New York). I have no idea why these groups are a part of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. Isn't the point to bring jobs to Ohio? So, why shouldn't these corporations move their headquarters to Ohio in order to be a part of the Chamber? None of these guys should get a vote until they move their facilities to Ohio.
The strangest members of the Chamber who should not be taking sides in a political battles especially if you are a part of the government are the representatives from Ohio State University, the University of Akron, and Sinclair Community College. These guys should not be voting and should definitely resign from the Chamber.
Consulting Companies: Boehm Inc. (Columbus), Hicks Partners (Dublin)--They describe themselves as doing business consulting for government affairs. Did Strickland cut them out and so they long for the days of Taft? CBIZ Accounting and Financial (Canton MA). These guys specialize in tax services so you would think that they would want higher taxes so that people try to get out of paying all the taxes. This should be a split 1 for Kasich and 2 for Strickland.
Misc. Companies from Ohio: Buchy Food Service (Greenville, Ohio)--mostly farming, The Anderson Inc. (Maumee)--this is a grain, plant nutrient, ethanol group. Basically a farming improvement group. Hull and Associates (Dublin) a project developer and engineering company that help business and government to transform undervalued resources into community assets. Again, it would seem this company would want big government, but instead they are siding with Kasich. SuperAmerica LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum with most of its business in Ohio. They run the convenience/gas stations under the Speedway brand, and must not mind if government does not have money to repair roads, bridges or infrastructure. Reliable Staffing Services from Southern Ohio- a temporary labor company who actually prosper with some uncertainty in the economy and so would want the illogical economic policy of the Corporate Party. Lochmoor Stables (Lebanon Ohio)--a small business for horse riders obviously would support Kasich. Grand River Rubber and Plastics (Ashtabula) Manufacturer of washers, gaskets, and tubes. Avizent (Dublin)--one of the nation's largest risk management companies and they manage workers comp claims for state funded employers. This is a strange one also these guys would hate tort reform because risk would be reduced, so why would they support Kasich? All of these companies would seem to want to increase the size of government. They would want a robust government that builds things and educates people and has a great network of colleges to help out the agricultural industry. I am going to give Kasich the two food/farming companies and the temporary labor company since their interest for fewer roads and a shrinking of industry might outweigh the other stuff. 5 companies for Strickland.
More Misc. Ohio Companies: Heritage WTI is a waste incinerator in (East Liverpool). This is another company that obviously would want a reduction in government operations like the EPA. Netjets Aviation Inc. (Columbus) is a company that rents out planes to corporate clients. Children's Discovery Center (Toledo) is a for-profit daycare facility with 27 branches. Scott's Miracle Grow (Marysville) maker of weed and lawn products. This would seem to be a company that would want to see more people who could have yards to treat with their products. With all the foreclosures and the Corporate party allowing it for 10 years, you would have to think that they would want a change. Durable Corporation (Norwalk, Ohio) is a recyclers of tires into other products. A green company has to be a Strickland supporter. The first two companies (incinerator and company for the rich jet set) are both in the Kasich camp. The childcare, yard company, and the green company should be Strickland supporters.
The final total if you add up where groups should vote based on their own self interest is 24 for Strickland and 27 for Kasich and a bunch of companies that should be quiet. Anyway you look at it, there are enough on the Chamber board who benefit from big government they should not be taking sides. Unbelievable.
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