Dan McCarthy, co-founder of Northway Advisors, most recently served as Governor Mike DeWine’s Legislative Director. In that role and in the Governor’s first 90 days in office, Mr. McCarthy led the Administration’s efforts in enacting the state transportation budget which included a critical increase to the state’s motor vehicle fuel tax. Following that success, Mr. McCarthy helped with the formulation and eventual enactment of Governor DeWine’s first operating budget. That budget included Administration priorities such as the creation of the H2Ohio program, a revamping of the state’s Medicaid program, regulatory relief for Ohio businesses and first of its kind funding of wrap-around services for children.

Mr. McCarthy also helped with Governor DeWine’s nationally recognized Covid Response by marshaling hundreds of millions of dollars through the Legislature’s appropriation process. Mr. McCarthy also steered through the General Assembly the Administration’s second operating budget during the unprecedented complications brought on by the Covid crisis. This second budget cut taxes, provided funding for in-demand job training, continued to build on the H2Ohio program and ended a decades-long fight with the enactment of a constitutional school funding formula.

Prior to joining the Administration, Mr. McCarthy was employed by and eventually owned The Success Group, one of Ohio’s largest and most successful independent lobbying firms. During his 25 years at the firm, Mr. McCarthy successfully represented some of the country’s most well-known corporations and Ohio’s most influential trade associations while also providing pro bono help for organizations as diverse as the Girls Scouts and the Coalition on House and Homelessness in Ohio. He served two years as a legislative aide in the House Democratic Caucus.