What do I Know? I'm Just a Lobbyist

by Neil S. Clark

During his nearly four decades in the Ohio political arena, Neil Clark lobbied for over 2000 clients and directed scores of successful campaigns for candidates and statewide ballot issues. He received two “Telly” awards and a “Silver Anvil” from the Public Relations Society of America for his political campaign work. Neil served as an adjunct professor of Public Administration at Ohio University and as a program analyst for the Ohio Legislative Budget Office. Before launching his lobbying career, Neil served as Chief Operating Officer of the Ohio Senate Republican Caucus where he managed the planning, development, and implementation of the taxing and spending priorities of Ohio’s $32 billion biennial budget. Neil has been interviewed on matters of elections, public policy, and political trends by every major Ohio Newspaper and leading national publications such as Newsweek, The New York Times, Time Magazine, and the Ohio affiliates of ABC, CBS, and NBC. For several years Neil was a regular guest on The Ohio News Network, Ohio Public TV, OSU Public Radio, and the BBC. Neil was named for nine consecutive years as one of Columbus Smart Business’s Power 100-25 Most Powerful People. In 1996 after visiting Maui Hawaii, Neil discovered the art of glass mosaics- which soon became his passion outside of politics and he created over 100 mosaics, including a portrait of Senator John Glenn. Neil is a graduate of Ohio University holding a Bachelor’s degree in political science & psychology, and a Master’s degree in political science & public administration.

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2021

Reviews

[John Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a poorly written book by a troubled man who did have something to be said in how the politics of the Ohio government operates. He highlights almost exclusively the pay to play system of Ohio politics. It was interesting seeing the names of so many people I’ve known – Paul Tipps, Bob Taft, Mark Weinberg, Gary Suhadolnik, Jim Ruvelo, Rocky Saxbe, Curt Stiner, Harry Meshel, Jerry Austin, Dick Finan, and Denny Wojo. Clark also included some interesting stories. But, at it’s core, it is one person’s undocumented story, a person who clearly was beyond self-centered and under indictment for Ohio’s largest scandal when he wrote it.

Perhaps the most interesting story is how the Republicans totally pulled out of supporting Governor Celeste’s “90% tax increase,” even though they knew the state needed the funds and had earlier made a commitment to provide some support. The Republicans decided that if they made this an entirely Democratic decision, they could use the issue to reclaim the State House and win the next governor’s election. Tragically, immediately before the vote, one of the Democratic State Senators, Oliver Ocasek and his wife, were in a serious collision leaving his wife on her deathbed. Democrats tried to use their personal relationships to convince Gillmor and Aronoff to provide one vote so the democratic office holder would not need to return from Florida and leaving his wife alone. They turned the democrats down, despite that Gillmor was in a similar situation a few years earlier, when he lost his wife. Ocasek returned for the vote. Immediately after the vote, Steiner and another guy created the political action committee (STOP EXCESSIVE TAXES) to repeal the legislation on the November 1983 ballot. That 90% campaign didn’t win but made a difference in who would control the senate for the next few decades.

Clark also spoke about how the republicans decided to do dumpster dumps to pull out information from the democratic elected officials in the general assembly. He also claimed that David Millionthal did the media campaign for Governor Celeste in exchange of receiving a $10 million travel and tourism contract (worth over $22 million today). Clark writes that the lobbyist pushed for a high-speed rail bond deal so they would raise the money for this new service and place it in an account and hold it for years until the money would be spent. He also claimed that Governor Voinovich would turn off his hearing aids when his chief of staff, Paul Mifsud, and his brother, Paul, were in the room together.

Clark gave a very interesting story of how he joined a couple of other republican operatives to interview potential candidates – Voinovich and Taft. Voinovich brought in his wife to the interview. During the interview, Clark asked Voinovich if he ever supported Celeste’s 90% tax increase and he denied it. Clark then pulled out a letter with the former mayor’s signature on it, demonstrating support. This brought the wrath of the future governor’s wife. Later in the interview, Voinovich announced that he hired one of Clark’s colleagues for his campaign. Clark claimed that he wasn’t told by his co-interviewer that he was already on the candidate’s campaign payroll.

The backbiting reported in this book is not typical in most political operations I’ve experienced. Clark claimed that one Voinovich aid would always want to walk the governor to his car to talk about how his colleague was a big drinker. He reported on how lawmakers were paid honorariums for drinking and eating together, how others never paid for a drink or dinner, and how Tom Noe became wealthy at the expense of our tax dollars. He closed out with the Householder scandal, one where he was headed to prison until he committed suicide wearing a DeWine campaign shirt.

This is not a book for those who want to go into public service. What’s the most disgusting element of this book is that Clark was simply a paid hand, seemed to car less about government and mentions nothing about good work that he would want to do. But it is also a book that makes one wonder why the media doesn’t do a better job in explaining the ECOT and FirstEnergy scandals, allowing Ohioans to select better government.

[Jim Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting topic from Neil's perspective, but I am sure at least 1/3 of it is untrue. Also they did a poor job editing.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually not the worst autobiography I've ever read.

[Shayne Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is niche Ohio political genre within a decent autobiography. The hard scrabble life of a longtime political operative is told through his retrospective lens after he was indicted by the US attorney. The scandal is one of the largest in Ohio History and involves utilities, politicians, and political operatives. He gives the inside baseball on what many of us watched unfold in real-time. His observations are corroborated in the media and by well placed individuals with knowledge of the players involved. He makes many predictions on what may happen next as the case unfolds. As of the writing of this review, no other indictments have been handed out, however the investigation continues.

If you are interested in Ohio Politics you will recognize most of the names. The veil of energy policy making is pulled back and is quite unholy. Much better written than I expected for a self published book and it’s a fairly easy read.

[Nate Stephey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neil seems to put his life on the table with this book. Admitting his own faults as a man and husband while highlighting the true corruption that takes place within Ohios political landscape. He is one of the few that is able to give details into the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history.

A very unique perspective into Ohio politics from the last 40 years. If nothing else has plenty of fun behind the scenes stories involving plenty of names that are very much still relevant in Ohio.

[Ann Sadzewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

RIP Neil Scott Clark

I pray that you have found the peace you have always seen to search for. I just wish you had stayed longer and fought to see Ohio become a better place of it ever does. Thank you for this book and last words.

[Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

Neil has a habit of having a faulty memory in this book. Don’t read it.