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

• Author: Sharon Paynter
• Published date: 01 July 2019
• Date: 01 July 2019
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/puar.13081

614 Public Administration Review • July | Augu st 20 19

Reviewed by: Sharon Paynter

East Carolina University

Senator George Voinovich’s (2017) latest, and

last, book is a testament to the lessons learned

through mutually beneficial public–private

partnerships (P3). His work with actors across the

political spectrum and with partners from industry

to private investors changed the landscape of

communities across Ohio, most notably in Cleveland.

This book is a departure from the current national

political climate punctuated by partisanship. Instead,

it offers a reflection on nonpartisan, collaborative

leadership strategies that manifested in successful

economic development and community revitalization

efforts. The result is a short, but useful, “how-to

guide” for students and community development

practitioners on building collaborative networks.

A P3 is a powerful, and formal, arrangement that is

a tool for problem solving for the betterment of the

general public. At their best, P3s are outcome-based

and pragmatic. The book begins with a description

of the first formal P3 that Voinovich helped to

create: the Cleveland Operations Improvement Task

Force (OITF).

Early in Chapter 1, Voinovich notes, almost as an

aside, that his experience suggests state and federal

government should have limited roles in financing

local government given the country’s national debt

(14). Given the prolonged effects of the Great

Recession, recent natural disasters, and global

conflicts, it is easy to see the wisdom in the learned

experiences of Voinovich, OITF, and Cleveland.

But even when setbacks happen, as with the fiscal

challenges, bankruptcy, and financial recovery of

Cleveland, it is important to face challenges head on,

with honesty and transparency (43).

The reader would benefit from knowing more about

Voinovich’s history as context for his approach

to governing. The senator was born and raised in

Cleveland. He was the oldest of six children—perhaps

the role in which he first learned to be a leader and

negotiator. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree

Sharon Paynter serves as the assistant

vice chancellor for community engagement

and research and as associate professor of

political science at East Carolina University.

Her research has been focused on public

policy questions related to poverty and

hunger and the social safety net, with more

recent examination of the role universities

play in community and economic

engagement.

E-mail: paynters@ecu.edu

George V. Voinovich, Empowering the Public-Private

Partnership: The Future of America’s Local Government

(Athens, OH: Ohio University Press, 2017). 97 pp. $19.95.

ISBN-13: 9780821422663

Public Administration Review,

Vol. 79, Iss. 4, pp. 614–615. © 2019 by

The American Society for Public Administration.

DOI: 10.1111/puar.13081.