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Mike Barnhart
| Mike Barnhart | |
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| Basic facts | |
| Organization: | Sunshine Review |
| Role: | Former president |
| Location: | Houston, Texas |
| Education: | American University, Wayne State University |
Mike Barnhart is a political strategist and the former president of Sunshine Review and State Budget Solutions. As of September 2025, Barnhart was chief operating officer at American Strategic Analysis and Performance, LLC, and the chairman of the board of directors of the Lucy Burns Institute.[1][2]
Biography
Barnhart graduated from American University with a bachelor's degree in political science in 1975 and obtained a doctorate in political science from Wayne State University in 1999. Barnhart worked as a congressional staffer between 1971 and 1983, serving as a staff assistant to Sen. Robert P. Griffin (R-Mich.) and as chief of staff to Rep. Jim Dunn (R-Mich.). Barnhart worked as an independent political consultant before joining The Washington Times as public affairs manager in 1985. In 1987, Barnhart joined SBC/Ameritech as a corporate communications and issues director for a regional Bell telephone operator. In 1999, he joined Public Strategies Inc., a public affairs consultant, as a managing director.
In 2009, Barnhart left Public Strategies. Later that year, Barnhart was named chief executive officer of State Budget Solutions and the Sunshine Review. He continued in that role until 2013 and continues to serve as chairman of the board of State Budget Solutions as of September 2025. Barnhart has been chief operating officer of the public affairs research firm American Strategic Analysis and Performance, LLC since 2014.[1]
Work and activities
Sunshine Standard
In the fall of 2010 Sunshine Review launched the Sunshine Standard, a website with tools for citizens to use in order to advance the cause of proactive transparency on the part of government.
Acting as president of Sunshine Review and the Sunshine Standard project Barnhart advanced the idea that state and local governments as well as school districts, had an obligation to transparency reforms that proactively share information with citizens so government can be held accountable to taxpayers for how time and money is being spent.
"Most state and local governments do not embrace transparency," said Mike Barnhart, President of Sunshine Review. "Even fewer proactively share information." Transparency exists largely at the munificence of officials, with the burden of negotiating complex and costly FOIA petitions resting squarely on the shoulders of citizens and journalists.[3]
Notable endorsements
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See also
External links
Footnotes
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