Gov.-elect John Kasich has named a longtime friend and Silicon Valley venture capitalist to oversee the privatization of the Ohio Department of Development.
Mark Kvamme, a partner in the California-based private equity firm Sequoia Capital, will spend about six months reviewing the existing state agency as part of a transition to Kasich's JobsOhio group, a nonprofit that the governor-elect envisions handling the state's economic development duties.
by Joseph on January 31, 2011 Ann asks Mark “What is it about the state of Ohio that sets it apart?”
Kvamme quickly responds that it’s Ohio’s central location and its excellent transportation system: “we have rivers, we have railroads.”
“What about the idea that the governor turned down 400 million in federal grants for passenger rail in the state of ohio?” asks Ann
Uh… hmm… ehhhh…
“I think it’s probably best for you to ask the governor’s office about that” replies Kvamme.
The Governor’s private industry business expert, who two seconds earlier claimed one of Ohio’s most attractive features to businesses is its rail infrastructure, just refused to answer a question about Kasich’s decision to send $400 million in rail funding back to Kvamme’s home state of California.
