Kasich ally lobbies for private-prison operator

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Governor John Kasich

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Gov. John Kasich’s long-time adviser and former congressional chief of staff has lined up a stable of clients — including a private-prison operator — that he’ll pitch to the new administration as a newly minted lobbyist, according to reports filed for a Monday deadline.

Don Thibaut’s client list includes Nashville, Tenn.-based Corrections Corporation of America, which stands potentially to gain if Kasich pursues expanded prison privatization to help close an estimated $8 billion budget gap. The company retained Thibaut’s new lobbying firm in mid-December.

Kasich’s new prisons director, Gary Mohr, also spent five years as a consultant at CCA — which designs, builds, manages and operates federal, state and local prisons across the country.

CCA spokesman Steve Owen said the company hired Thibaut’s firm, The Credo Company, to share the benefits of private prison operations with the new governor and state lawmakers.

“We have always retained a presence in the states where we operate, as well as in states where he have a business interest,” Owen said. “Our hope would be that Credo would carry our educational message that public-private partnerships bring the best of both worlds, the strong accountability and oversight of government and the cost-efficiency and innovation of business.”

Of Thibaut’s past ties to Kasich, Owen said, “I’m sure we’re certainly aware of whatever prior relationships they would have had.”

CCA operates one federal prison in Ohio, the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center in Youngstown, but no state facilities.