Advisory Council on Privatization and Innovation Holds First Meeting

Panel Focuses on Most Efficient, Cost-Effective Ways to Deliver State Services

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Governor's Advisory Council on Privatization and Innovation today held its first meeting, hearing presentations about successful public-private partnerships created in the state of Indiana.

The advisory council, consisting of unpaid volunteers from the private sector, was created by Governor Corbett last fall to examine potential privatization, public-private partnerships or managed-competition opportunities with the ultimate goal of streamlining government and reducing costs to taxpayers.

Council members are examining state government functions and services to determine whether the state is providing the most cost-efficient and transparent government that taxpayers deserve.

Today, council members heard presentations by Cris Johnston, deputy chief of staff to Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, and Stephen Goldsmith, the former mayor of Indianapolis. Both have extensive experience in executing successful public-private partnerships.

Another presenter was Robert Collins, a managing director for Greenhill & Co., an investment bank contracted by the commonwealth to advise the governor's council. Collins leads the firm's infrastructure advisory effort for the Americas. 

In creating the advisory council last fall, Governor Corbett said Pennsylvania needs to evaluate where it can provide better services to residents at an efficient cost. Government entities all across the U.S. have come to rely on and trust the services and networks delivered by public, private and nonprofit organizations, he noted.

The council will work continuously, meaning it will not sunset.

Media contact:  Gary Miller, 717-783-1116

Editor's Note: Additional background on Johnston and Goldsmith follows:

Cris Johnston: Johnston serves Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels as the Deputy Chief of Staff and has led the Government Efficiency and Financial Planning Division of the Indiana Office of Management and Budget for the last seven years. His team is charged with the development of a statewide performance measurement system, identifying and implementing performance improvement opportunities, and coordinating intra and inter-governmental initiatives. Some of these efforts include evaluations of over 400 state government programs, strategic sourcing procurement implementation, and property tax reform.

Johnston previously served as Chief Deputy for the State Treasurer. He also was a partner in the Public Sector Services Group of Crowe Horwath LLC, where he worked for 13 years providing financial advisory services to state and local governments. Johnston is a graduate of Wabash College and received his MBA from Butler University.

Stephen Goldsmith: Mayor Stephen Goldsmith is the Daniel Paul Professor of Government and the Director of the Innovations in American Government Program at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.  He previously served two terms as Mayor of Indianapolis, America's 12th largest city, where he earned a reputation as one of the country's leaders in public-private partnerships, competition and privatization. As mayor, he reduced government spending, cut the city's bureaucracy, held the line on taxes, eliminated counterproductive regulations, and invested over $1 billion in infrastructure. His transformation of downtown Indianapolis has been held up as a national model.  As mayor he conducted more than 80 public-private competitions, which resulted in savings of more than $400 million. The Wall Street Journal has called Mayor Goldsmith a "pioneering privatizer of city services."

Mayor Goldsmith has previously served as the Deputy Mayor for Operations of New York City, Chairman of the Corporation for National and Community Service and Chief Domestic Policy Advisor to President Bush in his 2000 presidential campaign. He is the author of many books on cities and is frequently published in such papers as The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor