Reviewed by: Sharon Paynter East Carolina University

George V. Voinovich, Empowering the Public-Private Partnership: The Future of America’s Local Government (Athens, OH: University Press, 2017). 97 pp. $19.95. ISBN-13: 9780821422663

Sharon Paynter serves as the assistant enator George Voinovich’s (2017) latest, and create: the Operations Improvement Task vice chancellor for community engagement and research and as associate professor of last, book is a testament to the lessons learned Force (OITF). political science at East Carolina University. through mutually beneficial public–private Her research has been focused on public Spartnerships (P3). His work with actors across the Early in Chapter 1, Voinovich notes, almost as an policy questions related to poverty and hunger and the social safety net, with more political spectrum and with partners from industry aside, that his experience suggests state and federal recent examination of the role universities to private investors changed the landscape of government should have limited roles in financing play in community and economic communities across Ohio, most notably in Cleveland. local government given the country’s national debt engagement. E-mail: [email protected] (14). Given the prolonged effects of the Great This book is a departure from the current national Recession, recent natural disasters, and global political climate punctuated by partisanship. Instead, conflicts, it is easy to see the wisdom in the learned it offers a reflection on nonpartisan, collaborative experiences of Voinovich, OITF, and Cleveland. leadership strategies that manifested in successful But even when setbacks happen, as with the fiscal economic development and community revitalization challenges, bankruptcy, and financial recovery of efforts. The result is a short, but useful, “how-to Cleveland, it is important to face challenges head on, guide” for students and community development with honesty and transparency (43). practitioners on building collaborative networks. The reader would benefit from knowing more about A P3 is a powerful, and formal, arrangement that is Voinovich’s history as context for his approach a tool for problem solving for the betterment of the to governing. The senator was born and raised in Public Administration Review, general public. At their best, P3s are outcome-based Cleveland. He was the oldest of six children—perhaps Vol. 79, Iss. 4, pp. 614–615. © 2019 by The American Society for Public Administration. and pragmatic. The book begins with a description the role in which he first learned to be a leader and DOI: 10.1111/puar.13081. of the first formal P3 that Voinovich helped to negotiator. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree

614 Public Administration Review • July | August 2019 from and his law degree from (17). The penultimate chapter on the role foundations The . In 1963, his took on his play in providing financing, as well as accountability first significant political role as Assistant Attorney through monitoring and evaluation, was a good General of Ohio, followed by service in the Ohio reminder for those looking to build successful P3s House of Representatives, Auditor of Cuyahoga (70–71). As he chronicles the history of the Cleveland County, Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, Mayor of Foundation and its leadership through the twentieth Cleveland, Governor of Ohio, and finally as a U.S. century, he sets the stage for how P3s can catalyze senator from Ohio. Through this illustrious career, citizen support for municipal projects. Senator Voinovich was known for his integrity, inclination toward bipartisanship, and commitment The modest, humble approach that defined his life is to citizen welfare. Pursuing joint endeavors based on also a shortcoming of this book. George Voinovich is trust and kept promises (45) for the public good was a too modest in his first-person accounting of the P3 hallmark of Voinovich’s P3s. he created in Cleveland. He understates his role and, importantly, the role that strong leadership played in It is not surprising that the creation of public goods is defining the work of the P3. a theme that runs through Empowering Public-Private Partnerships. Voinovich asserts that P3s are not the It is apparent that this book was finished solution to every problem at the state or local level, posthumously and likely not in its final form before but these collaborations can create comprehensive Senator Voinovich’s death. His colleagues made outcomes that better address citizen need, job important contributions in the introduction and creation, and economic growth than those initiatives afterward to provide the context for the power of P3s; that emerge in a more isolated environment (14). He however, a final reflection from the Senator on the chronicles relationships with city council leaders (47), future of P3s is needed. As it is, readers are left feeling chief executive officers (59), private sector partners like they are primed for the big questions that the (39), and many other partners throughout the book. author never poses. These anecdotes shed light on the hard work it takes to build an engaged, active coalition. One could imagine a discussion on the value of P3s for moving political hot-button issues forward. Such Over and over again, passion for communities is a reflection might have come through topics salient highlighted as a driving force in bringing players in 2018, such as tax reform as a tool for generating together. On the surface, the lessons seem simplistic: economic activity; net neutrality and its effects at the relationships matter (28), establish a leadership state and local level; or even partnerships emerging structure (30), and communicate clearly (31). Yet, between states, cities, and the pharmaceutical industry these decisions, as described by key stakeholders to curb the opioid crisis. throughout the book, are critical. Voinovich argues that strong management is the cornerstone to enhancing Nonetheless, this book is a primer on P3s. Its the quality of life for residents of a community (13) pragmatic approach is its strength, and the lessons and delivers a powerful endorsement for using Total readers take away are actionable. Through trust, Quality Management as a scaffold for “alignment and strong management structures, respect, and clear integration of functions across organizations” (45). communication, public–private partnerships give local governments a way to deliver on promises to build For Voinovich, a successful P3 is inclusive. Thus, strong, healthy communities. he makes the case that citizens, whether retirees or millennials, are key players in successful P3s (16). It Reference is the role of leaders, he argues, to “empower people George V. Voinovich. 2017. Empowering the Public-Private and channel their energy and resources to help solve Partnership: The Future of America’s Local Government. problems, meet challenges, and seize opportunities” Athens, OH: Ohio University Press.

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