I remember watching the cheesy game show (aren’t they all?) “The Price is Right” when I was a kid. Well, last Friday, the price was right at the Association for Accounting Administration meeting featuring guest speaker Clarke Price, the President & CEO of The Ohio Society of CPAs. I’ve noticed over the years that sometimes when people write about Mr. Price they don’t realize his first name has an “e” at the end. It probably happens about as often as I, Rob Nance, get mail addressed to “Rob Nancy.” Irritating, yes, but we move on.

And moving on is exactly what Clarke Price is going to do after the last day of 2012. Having been on the OSCPA ship since 1972, there are certainly going to be some big shoes to fill at the captain’s wheel when Price retires from the organization. Agree or disagree with what he has to say on given issues, what’s guaranteed is that Clarke Price won’t hold back or beat around the bush—he tells it like he sees it. Another trait that I really like about the guy is that he has a sharp dry wit that pokes over the fence every once in a while like that neighbor on “Home Improvement.”

In this first installment about what’s going on with this particular CPA society, there’s something quite interesting that’s been taking place in Ohio that most people in the profession probably don’t know: OSCPA is the only state CPA society that endorses political candidates, which they’ve been doing for 20 years. The association’s criteria is all about the process of evaluating the track records of the candidates, void of social issues and other matters not related to the CPA profession or business.

OSCPA’s current endorsement of incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown is exceptionally controversial. Nearly all member-based associations are in the “member pleasing business.” It really took guts to go down this political endorsement route—and stay on it. As a result of their endorsement of Senator Brown, for example, I took a much closer look at his history on OSCPA issues, which will now cause me to vote for the man (which I was not going to do prior to a few days ago).

Municipal income tax uniformity is another major goal for OSCPA…and it’s an uphill battle. Ohio is the only state in the nation where hundreds of cities/villages can assess income tax using their own unique definitions and rules. This is one issue that needs to change, as it’s a bit like the Wild West out in some of these Ohio communities. Mobile workforce state income tax simplification is also another hurdle for OSCPA and Ohio lawmakers.

Clarke Price will undoubtedly miss the legislative game; like most people involved with this side of government, there’s an inner passion that burns like a raging fire. Remarked Price, “Passing legislation is all about volume—how much noise you can make.” Clarke Price will miss making that noise.

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