| Original Event Details
The 2006
Midterm Elections Forum
Wednesday November 1, 2006
4:00-6:00 p.m.
Thwing Center-1914 Lounge
The Case Center for Policy Studies is proud to present a forum on the
critical races, inside and outside Ohio, that will be decided in the crucial
2006 midterm elections.
Our panel of distinguished guests will be moderated by Case Associate
Professor of Political Science Alexander P. Lamis and feature two prominent campaign consultants,
Robert Dykes and Lee Weingart, who will provide their expert
analysis and observations on some of the more competitive electoral races
occurring in the November elections. The forum will also include reports
on several hotly contested races around the country by undergraduate students
in Professor Lamis's Mid-Term Elections course.
Additional Information About Our Panel...
 A native of Charleston, South Carolina, Professor
Alexander P. Lamis earned a Ph.D. in
political science from Vanderbilt University in 1982 and a J.D. from the
University of Maryland Law School in 1984.
A specialist on elections and political parties, he is the author of The
Two-Party South, 2d expanded edition (Oxford University Press, 1990), which was
co-winner of the V. O. Key Award when the book’s first edition was published in
1984, and articles and book chapters on the politics of the American South.
He is editor of Ohio Politics (Kent State University Press, 1994; second edition
forthcoming in 2006), his first book project involving collaboration among
political scientists and journalists.
His second edited book, Southern Politics in the 1990s, was published by
Louisiana State University Press in 1999; he is the author of the introductory
and concluding chapters of this collaborative work that contains eleven state
chapters written by teams of Southern political scientists and journalists.
Before joining the Case Western Reserve University faculty in 1988, Dr. Lamis
taught at the University of North Florida and the University of Mississippi and
worked as a research assistant at the Brookings Institution. He was admitted to
the Ohio bar in 1997.
At Case, in addition to serving on the Faculty Senate and various university
committees, he founded in the spring of 1989 the popular on-going faculty/staff
Friday public affairs discussion forum. In 1992 he was an initial organizer of a
university-wide public policy initiative, which sponsored over a dozen two-hour
forums under his direction. He also was the initiator of an on-going network of
Northeast Ohio political scientists that promotes collaborative contact among
area political scientists.
Robert R. Dykes is the principle and CEO of the Triad Research Group.
He is one of the most trusted and respected
consultants in Northeast Ohio's market research
community. His distinguished reputation in the survey
research field extends to both public and private
sectors. Bob is quoted often in the media and has
appeared frequently on local television and radio
programs.
With his extensive knowledge of public attitudes
and voting patterns, Bob is a popular speaker for
business and other civic organizations, whether it's
analyzing election results or addressing topics such
as the dynamics of issue campaigns and the value of
voter targeting.
Prior to founding TRIAD
(formerly Decision Research Corporation), Bob worked
in a research capacity for B.F. Goodrich Corporation,
the City of Cleveland, and the Greater Cleveland
Growth Association. He earned his Bachelor of Science
degree from Case Western Reserve University.
Lee C. Weingart is founder and president of
LNE Group, a leading professional services firm
specializing in Advocacy,
 Campaign
Management and Fundraising solutions. Since early 2002,
Mr. Weingart has cultivated his self-started, two-person
business into what is now one of the top advocacy and
lobbying firms in Ohio. Headquartered in Cleveland, the
firm has expanded to better serve clients with offices
in Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo and Washington DC.
Clients rely on Mr. Weingart and his experienced team
of professionals’ unparalleled executive and legislative
advocacy, government and public relations, fundraising
and campaign management expertise and counsel. Clients
include Fortune 500 corporations, regional companies,
start-up enterprises, local governments, non-profit
organizations, trade associations and other major
interest groups.
Having been extensively involved in Ohio and national
politics and government, Mr. Weingart is a veteran of
the political arena. From 1995 to 1997, he served as
county commissioner in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Cuyahoga
County is the largest county in Ohio and is among the 30
largest counties in the country. At 28, Mr. Weingart
was one of the youngest people ever to serve as county
commissioner. As commissioner, Mr. Weingart played a
leading role in:
- Administering a $1 billion + government with more
than 9,000 employees
- Turning a potential $120 million county budget
deficit into a $40 million budget surplus without any
increase in taxes
- Beginning implementation of welfare reform
- Bringing NFL football back to Cleveland
Among his other political involvements, Mr. Weingart
was one of 215 national Pioneers in the 1999-2000
presidential campaign of then-Governor George W. Bush
and personally raised Governor Bush more than $100,000.
He also served as the Cuyahoga County Chairman of the
Taft for Governor campaign in 1998. Mr. Weingart has
also supported the statewide campaigns of Jim Petro,
Betty Montgomery, Joe Deters, Ken Blackwell, Mike DeWine
and George Voinovich. In 2006, Mr. Weingart was
appointed to the State Lottery Commission for a term
ending August 1, 2007.
After leaving his position as county commissioner,
Mr. Weingart held senior executive and sales positions
with regional and international technology companies.
Some of these include Computer Associates International,
Inc., a publicly traded software company headquartered
in Islandia, NY and REALOGIC, Inc., a Cleveland based
advanced technology consulting firm. At REALOGIC, Mr.
Weingart served as chief administrative officer, vice
president and general counsel.
Mr. Weingart received his juris doctor degree, with
honors, from The George Washington University National
Law Center in 1991. He received his bachelor of arts
degree, cum laude, in economics and management from
DePauw University in 1988.
Mr. Weingart is married to the former Caroline Emrick.
They have three children, Lizzie, Ned and Ethen, who
collectively are LNE Group's namesake.
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