CENTER FOR
POLICY STUDIES

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.