Thomas A. John

Tom is a partner in Taft’s Public Affairs Strategies Group and focuses his government practice on public infrastructure, government procurement, public-private partnerships, and serving as general and advisory counsel to private companies. He represents many clients including Fortune 500 companies, startups, municipalities, and the State of Indiana.

Tom’s diverse background brings valuable insights into his work advising clients through legal and regulatory issues at the local, state, and federal levels. His breadth of experience includes procurement consulting, legal advising, deal structuring, and drafting. Tom has represented parties in the Indiana Toll Road Concession, City of Indianapolis Water Wastewater Transaction, Indianapolis Parking Meter Concession, and Marion County Justice Center Procurement among others. He combines his skills to guide clients through the complex issues in P3 or alternative procurement infrastructure projects to successful results.

Reported and Representative Cases

• Represented parties in the Indiana Toll Road Concession, City of Indianapolis Water Wastewater Transaction, Indianapolis Parking Meter Concession, Marion County Justice Center Procurement, and the Delaware County Justice Center, among others.

Career Highlights

• Active in politics for many years, Tom has advised many campaigns, officeholders, and companies.
• He is a past chairman of the 7th District Committee of the Republican Party (Indianapolis).
• Served on the Indiana State Republican Committee and has been a delegate to the Indiana and National Republican Conventions numerous times.
• Served as campaign manager in the successful 2002 campaign to elect former Congressman and current Attorney General Todd Rokita as Indiana’s Secretary of State and has served as ballot access advisor or director for multiple presidential campaigns, including as Indiana Chairman of Marco Rubio for President Campaign.
• Served as Chairman of the Marion County Republican Party in 2007 when his organization won control of the city-county council and initial victory for two-term Republican Mayor Greg Ballard.
• Significant successful election matters include serving as the Election Day Operations counsel and director for various campaigns, including Governor Eric Holcomb, Senators Todd Young and Mike Braun.
• Counsel for Rubio for President in successful defense of Indiana Ballot challenge.
• Legal counsel in the 2012 challenge to former Governor Mike Pence’s primary opponent and Governor Eric Holcomb’s primary opponent in 2020.
• Former Member of Indiana Election Commission.
• Lead strategic advisor on the Freedom Indiana Initiative.
• Frequent commentator and advisor on the development of the law in Indiana and other places regarding the Public Private Partnership model.
• Serving as special counsel to the Secretary of State in Indiana vs. MicroVote and ES&S.

Speeches

• Regular presenter for AIAI P3 Certification Course for Public Owners.
• Regular “Political Insider” on “All INdiana Politics,” a WISH-TV Sunday show.
• Panelist, “New River Crossing: Tunnel Alternative and Why It Works?” 43rd Annual Broward Workshop, May 23, 2024.
• Panelist, Indiana Election Law Update, Indianapolis Bar Association, April 2, 2024.
• Speaker, “P3 101 Questions and Answers Breakfast Workshop (for Owners),” P3C P3 Conference, March 11, 2024.
• Speaker, “P3 Legislation: The Good, The Bad & Everything In-Between,” P3C P3 Conference, March 12, 2024.
• Speaker, “Why Do a P3? Building the Business Case for a P3 and Selling It to the Community,” P3 Electrified Summit, Sept. 21, 2023.
• Speaker, “AIAI P3 101 Breakfast Workshop,” P3 Electrified Summit, Sept. 21, 2023.
• Panelist, “Why Do a P3? Building the Business Case for a P3 and How to Gain Community Support,” 2023 P3C Conference, March 5, 2023.
• Panelist, “Why Do a P3? Building the Business Case for a P3 and How to Gain Community Support,” 2022 P3 Government Conference, Dec. 1, 2022.
• Panelist, “The Role of the Owner in a P3,” 2022 P3 Higher Education Summit, Oct. 4, 2022.
• Panelist, “Using the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Statute and Structuring Considerations for P3s,” Indiana Municipal Continuing Legal Education, Aug. 24, 2022.
• Panelist, “Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Statute,” 2022 Indiana Conference of Mayors, Aug. 11, 2022.
• Panelist, “Opportunities Under the Build Transfer Statute and the Structures of Public Private Partnerships,” 2022 Indiana Municipal Lawyers Association, June 23, 2022.
• Panelist, “Why do a P3? Building the Business Case for a P3 and Selling it to Your Community,” 2022 CSEF Conference, June 14, 2022.
• Panelist, “Why do a P3? Building the Business Case for a P3 and Selling it to Your Community” 2022 P3C Conference, March 14, 2022.
• Panelist, “Opening Conversation: Different Day, Same Great Conversation!” 2021 P3C Government Conference, Dec. 7, 2021.
• Moderator, “Utilization of a Public Charitable Trust to Ensure High-Quality Utility Service,” 2021 P3 Conference, Sept. 14, 2021.
• Moderator, “Trends in Sustainability for Infrastructure Projects,” 2021 P3 Conference, Sept. 15, 2021.
• Speaker, “Election Integrity and Security,” 2020-21 Lugar Series Class, Dec. 2, 2020.
• Co-Presenter “Smart Cities in a COVID-19 World,” Mayor’s Institute Hosted by Ball State University and AIM (Accelerate Indiana Municipalities), Nov. 9, 2020.
• Co-Presenter on Litera TV regarding “P3s: Public-Private Partnerships” on Oct. 15, 2020.
• Speaker on “What is Your Flavor of Procurement?” at the P3C Convention Sports and Entertainment Facilities Conference on Aug. 13, 2020.
• Other P3C Conference Panels 2020 to current.

Media Features

Tom has been featured by numerous news outlets throughout his career, including:

TV (National)

• NBC
• MSNBC
• CNN
• CNN’s Anderson Cooper Show
• Fox Business News
• ABC World News Tonight
• NHK (Japanese TV)

Radio

• ABC Radio
• WIBC
• WFIU

Print

• IndyStar
• HeatStreet
• Bloomberg
• Associated Press
• Politico
• Indianapolis Business Journal

TV (Local)

• WRTV
• WTHR
• WXIN
• WTTV
• WISH – Regular Guest