|
Hicks Partners Newsletter
Our revised newsletter will be more concise, frequent, and relevant.
|
Welcome to the new Hicks Partners Insider. Our revised newsletter will be more concise, frequent and relevant. We'll summarize what's happening in government, politics and business. |
|
|
And, when you see  , you’ll be getting our insider analysis on topics that matter to you. Feel free to share this with others and let us know what you think. We’re here to help. |
|
|
|
 |
Training camps are over. Petitions are filed. Candidates enter the ring Ready to Rumble in the Primary bout to see who will advance to the November Main Event.
Attorney General Mike DeWine and running mate Secretary of State Jon Husted square up against Lt. Governor Mary Taylor and running mate Nathan Estruth in the GOP preliminary contest. DeWine enters as the heavy favorite – he’s endorsed by the Ohio Republican Party, leads Taylor 54-14% in a recent poll, and boasts $10.5 million on hand to ward off the underdog Taylor campaign.
Democrats face a multi-candidate cage match. Richard Cordray and running mate Betty Sutton are slight favorites with the largest treasury at nearly $2 million. The Joe Schiavoni/Stephanie Dodd team has $276,000 on hand. Former Supreme Court Justice Bill O’Neill, former congressman Dennis Kucinich and last-minute candidates Jon Heavey, Paul Ray and Larry Ealy all entered the race late so didn’t have to report fundraising yet. Connie Pillach has dropped out of the race and endorsed Cordray.
|
|
|
|
|
Money doesn’t always win elections, but it matters. A lot. DeWine has a bigger war chest than any non-incumbent gubernatorial candidate in Ohio history at this stage of the race. Cordray’s early fundraising is impressive, but expect Kucinich to run an effective low-cost insurgent campaign. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Dennis Kucinich wasted no time appealing to the environmental wing of the Democratic Party. Within days of becoming a candidate, Kucinich announced his plan to ban all oil and natural gas drilling in Ohio. Not just hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, but all drilling! |
|
|
Kucinich is looking to lock-up support from influential environmental activists, and this proposal may provide a motivated army of true-believer campaign volunteers. That could matter in the multi-candidate field. |
|
|
ICYMI: Autonomous Vehicles vs. Government Regulation -- Let the Race Begin
|
|
|
Steve McQueen said, “Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting.” For those of us who enjoy the competition of fast cars when the green flag drops, nothing rings more true.
But there is another kind of race going on right now. It’s a race between autonomous vehicles technology and the regulations that will govern all forms of smart mobility.
Brian Hicks explores the dynamics of this race in his
recent column in Columbus Business First.
|
|
|
|
|
The Big News from the Statehouse is the bipartisan agreement to reform the way congressional districts are drawn. The constitutional amendment will appear on the May 8 ballot and is intended to curtail partisan gerrymandering, and make districts more fair, competitive and compact. If approved by voters, districts would be re-drawn after the next U.S. census. Due to slow population growth, Ohio is expected to lose one congressional seat in 2021.
The other Big News is consideration of the State Capital Budget in the coming weeks. While this biennial budget primarily funds “bricks and mortar” needs of state agencies and colleges and universities, it also provides more than $120 million for “community projects” throughout Ohio. Many local civic centers, museums, concert halls and such will form a long line for a slice of this state largess.
|
|
|
Capital budgets have long been a staple during election year. Officeholders love to deliver the bacon back home and pose for the ribbon-cutting ceremony pictures during election time. |
|
|
Popularity of tax reform passed in late 2017 is on the rise. Tax cuts are making their way into paychecks and a steady diet of news about employer-provided bonuses is helping people realize that “tax reform” is not pie-in-the-sky political rhetoric—but rather meat-and-potatoes real money in their pocketbook.
After a brief government shutdown in January over immigration issues, Congress passed a funding bill last week to keep the government open through March 23. It’s a first step of a broader bipartisan agreement that will increase federal spending for defense and nondefense programs, and provide additional funding for disaster relief and the opioid crisis.
|
|
|
If Congress can use momentum started with tax reform and now the budget deal, to resolve DACA, boarder security, and begin to make progress on the nation’s infrastructure (tall orders no doubt), majority Republicans will have a solid record to present to voters. Democrats will need a robust platform in addition to their anti-Trump message for the fall. |
|
|
Happy New Year (of the Dog)! |
|
|
|
|
A New Year’s celebration in February? Indeed. The Chinese New Year, beginning February 16, will ring in the “Year of the Dog”.
Just like in the U.S., food features prominently in Chinese New Year celebrations. Jau gok and jiaozi dumplings, bakkwa meats, and sweets like nian gao are favorites. The color red is also closely tied to the holiday. An ancient Chinese tale says an old man placed red papers and fireworks around his village to prevent the coming of the mystical New-Year’s beast Nian. Usually depicted as a dragon, Nian was indeed scared away, so firecrackers are abundantly used in holiday celebrations. Dragon boat races, dragon dances, and gift giving are other common ways people celebrate.
So if you need a reason to celebrate, put on something red, grab a dumpling or two, and do your best dragon dance for the year of the Dog!
Hicks Partners was recently honored to host a delegation from the Chinese Consulate General’s Office to discuss business and cultural exchanges in Ohio.
|
|
|
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation, chaired by Hicks Partners CEO Brian Hicks, tracks the quarterly “Prosperity Pulse”, an index measure of Ohio’s economic health. The recent survey shows business leaders optimistic about the future.
|
|
|
You can download the report
here. |
|
|
The first U.S. medal of the Winter Olympics went to Ohio native Red Gerard! Red, a 17-year-old who now makes Colorado his home, came from behind to win a gold medal in the men’s snowboard slopestyle competition. Congrats to Red and good luck to all U.S. Olympic athletes!
|
|
|
Hicks Partners, LLC is a multidisciplinary business consulting firm providing public relations, government affairs and business development services. We deliver powerful results for clients seeking to enhance their image, impact policy decisions and grow their bottom line.
Visit our
website for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
Votes: 0
Voting..
|
|
|
|
|