Brian K. Hicks: Ohio's Karl Rove
by Amaury E. Nora

January 9, 2005

What did Wally O'Dell mean when he was caught saying he was going to deliver Ohio to Bush? In a careful investigation of the Ohio election fraud, certain information was found and can be used to connect the dots between Wally O'Dell and Kenneth Blackwell. To answer this election riddle, one would only need to look to see who is serving on The Ohio State University Board of Trustees.

Here are the Major Players:

Hon. Robert M. Duncan - he was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court. Judge Duncan wrote the landmark order ending segregation in the Columbus Public Schools. Other judgeships — he was Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court, Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. He also provides his judicial expertise by contributing to The Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization which works in the areas of campaign finance, communications and government ethics.

Walden W. (Wally) O'Dell - was appointed to the Board of Trustees by Governor Taft in 2003. O'Dell is the well known chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Diebold, Incorporated, the leading global provider of integrated financial self-service delivery systems, security and services. Diebold currently employs more than 13,000 associates and is headquartered in Canton, Ohio. O'Dell also serves on the other boards These include Federal Signal Corporation of Oak Brook, Ill., and Lennox International Inc. of Richardson, Texas. He also serves as a member of the board of the United Way of Greater Stark County, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC), a member of the Ohio Business Roundtable.

Brian K. Hicks - was appointed to the board of trustees by Governor Bob Taft in 2004. Hicks' appoint is the link between Wally O'Dell and Ken Blackwell.

  • Hicks served as chief of staff for Ohio Governor Bob Taft.
  • Hicks previously served as chairman of Taft's transition committee,
  • Ohio deputy secretary of state, and
  • Senior legislative assistant to Congressman Michael G. Oxley

Hicks has played key roles in numerous statewide candidates, judicial and issue campaigns, which also includes Taft's 1994 campaign for Secretary of State, his 1998 and 2002 gubernatorial campaigns, and the successful Ohio Bush-Cheney 2000 and 2004 campaign. Hicks is considered Ohio's "most powerful unelected official" (according to the Associated Press, Cleveland Plain Dealer and The Columbus Dispatch).

Hicks' fingerprints can be found virtually in every aspect of managing the State of Ohio for nearly five years. He has been responsible for in a significant number of policy, management and legislative issues. As Gov. Taft's Chief of Staff he played a major role in the development of Ohio's operating and capital budgets.

Hicks is no stranger to election recounts, according to the Ohio State University student newspaper, The Lantern, Hicks was also in involved in the 2000 Florida election recount effort. According to the Lantern 11/17/2000 article, Gov. Taft's Chief of Staff Brian Hicks and Deputy Press Secretary Orest Holubec were sent by a senior member of the Bush campaign and asked to participate in the overseeing of the Florida ballot recount.

Hicks is also no stranger to controversy. Last spring, Gov. Taft himself, First Lady Hope Taft, his chief of staff, Brian Hicks, two of his cabinet members and numerous senior and support staff have - while on the clock, ostensibly serving the public - conceived and directed a partisan political campaign.

A four-month long Institute for Policy Studies investigation by freelance journalist Daniel Forbes found "detail political malfeasance, the misuse of public funds and the inappropriate use of government resources in Ohio. The effort has been aided by federal officials, including President Bush's publicly announced nominee to be deputy director of the White House drug czar's office (since confirmed), and a senior U.S. Senate staffer. The drug czars of Florida and Michigan and a senior Drug Enforcement Administration agent also participated in the scheme."

Forbes also found, "Ohio officials consulted with and enlisted the aid of the wife of the former finance chair of the Republican National Committee, who herself has played a key political role for Jeb Bush, as well as several taxpayer-supported, staunch anti-drug organizations, including the supposedly apolitical Partnership for a Drug-Free America."

Is it possible when Wally O'Dell said he will deliver OHIO, he really did mean it? Is it also possible that O'Dell was a cover for Hicks, while Hicks worked his magic?

It is evident that those who are seeking the truth about the Ohio election are missing the central player, Brain K Hicks, in their investigation. Gov. Taft should also be investigated.