Jennifer Garrison

The newly elected Ohio House Democratic leadership for the 128th General Assembly gathered in the Statehouse Wednesday to discuss some legislative priorities for the next session. Ohio Speaker of the House-elect Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) said that his top priority was economic development and jobs, but also floated some ideas on urban revitalization.

"In 2006, the people of Ohio elected a new governor in Ted Strickland to turn Ohio around," Budish said. "It's difficult for a governor to do that by himself. He needs cooperation from the Ohio House and Senate."

Budish said he plans to work closely with Strickland, Senate President Bill Harris (R-Ashland) and Minority Leader-elect Bill Batchelder (R-Mediana) to move Ohio forward over the next two years.

"We will do our best to work with Republicans across the aisle," Budish said. "And I believe Bill Batchelder wants to do the same."

Statehouse Photo

Speaker of the House-elect Armond Budish

The Ohio House Democratic caucus held an evening session Tuesday night to select its leadership for the upcoming 128th General Assembly. Ohio House Democratic Minority Leader Joyce Beatty (D-Columbus) announced Tuesday evening that caucus members had unanimously elected state Rep. Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) as the next speaker of the house.

"I am proud and humbled to lead our Caucus into the next General Assembly as we continue the work to turn around Ohio," Budish said. "We partnered with Governor Strickland over the past two years to lay the groundwork for positive change. I look forward to working with him, President Harris, Minority Leader Batchelder, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue building the foundation for long-term prosperity and success in Ohio."

Budish's fundraising prowess and campaign efforts had helped the caucus gain at least five seats on Election Day, securing a Democratic House majority for the first time in 14 years.

Joining Budish in leadership will be state Rep. Matt Szollosi (D-Toledo) as speaker pro tempore, state Rep. Jennifer Garrison (D-Marietta) as majority floor leader, state Rep. Tracy Maxwell Heard (D-Columbus) as assistant majority floor leader, state Rep. Jay Goyal (D-Mansfield) as majority whip and state Rep. Allan Sayre (D-Dover) as assistant majority whip.

On Election Day, Ohio Democrats picked up a majority in the Ohio House of Representatives, thanks in no small part to the fundraising prowess and campaign efforts of state Rep. Armond Budish (D-Beachwood).

The next morning, Ohio Democratic Party Chair Chris Redfern (D-Catawba Island) was already referring to Budish as speaker, but this title won't be official until state House Democrats convene on Tuesday to pick their new leadership team.

This summer, Budish essentially solidified his status as the next leader of the House Democrats when he struck a deal with his most formidable challenge for the role, state Rep. Matt Szollosi (D-Oregon). State Rep. Ted Celeste (D-Grandview Heights) had also expressed interest in the leadership position.

Ohio Democratic Party chair Chris Redfern, state Rep. Armond Budish (D-Beachwood), state Rep. Jennifer Garrison (D-Marietta) and health care attorney John Patrick Carney (D-Clintonville), the Democratic candidate for Ohio's 22nd House district, laid claim and announced that Democrats will take back the Ohio House of Representatives in November.

The group said outside the Statehouse that Democrats are "committed to continue the fight for middle class Ohioans and return the statehouse to balance" after "16 years of Republican do-nothingness, corruption and failed policies."

"Our goal is clear--to sweep from office legislators and a Republican party that has proved to every one of us that wastefulness, arrogance and corruption has placed a heavy burden on the middle class," said Chairman Redfern. "All this is the result of one party being in office for 16 years and that is just too long for the middle class to suffer."

A small group of Democrats had a conversation this week about running State Rep. Jennifer Garrison for Attorney General, but in the end the discussion took about ten minutes when the insiders realized it was a non-starter.