Beachwood’s Armond Budish first Jew to hold position

By Marilyn H. Karfeld, Cleveland Jewish News

Pundits have called him “an ATM with legs” for his fund-raising prowess and “the second most powerful official in Ohio” for his political clout.

Ohio House Speaker Armond Budish

But on this particular Sunday, House Speaker Armond Budish of Beachwood wasn’t dealing with the weighty ramifications of Ohio’s budget or horse-trading with the state power brokers. Dressed in a gray suit and blue paisley tie, he had put in an appearance at a community pancake breakfast in his 8th House District before rushing to this interview.

Attending community functions is how the multi-faceted lawyer/writer/television host/legislator spends a lot of weekends, he admits, as his cell phone – actually, he has two – buzzes constantly.

“I’ve blown out three phones since I’ve been in this (2008) election,” he says.

After the Democrats regained control of the House in November 2008, Budish was selected by his colleagues as the first Jewish speaker in Ohio history.

He’s also the first person from Northeast Ohio in 70 years to hold the post.

“From the budgetary and policy standpoint, the speaker has huge power,” said Democratic political consultant Alan Melamud last fall when it was clear that Budish would be the next speaker.

Background in elder law

Although clearly ambitious, Budish insists he did not run for the state legislature in 2006 with any thought of becoming speaker one day.

“I didn’t even know what the speaker did. I ran for state representative because I wanted to help people who couldn’t help themselves.”

As an expert in elder law, Budish helps families deal with legal issues surrounding illness and disability.

For 24 years, he wrote You and the Law for the Plain Dealer and for 15 years, he penned a consumer column for Family Circle, both of which he gave up when he ran for office.

He’s also written three books on legal and financial issues confronting people as they age. Golden Opportunities, his television program for seniors, airs on Sunday mornings on Cleveland’s Channel 3. His wife Amy quips it appeals to treadmill viewers.

Writing the columns and doing television is one sort of public service, Budish maintains. He wanted to do more. When his second son left home for college, Budish ran for state representative.

But when the Democrat, who represents parts of Cleveland and its eastern suburbs, arrived in Columbus in January 2007, he realized “being in the minority meant I couldn’t get much done after all. I decided to see if I could help us (Democrats) become the majority.”

Shifting the House

During this past election, he spent “a lot of time” fund-raising to help other Democratic candidates around the state, because, he says, “clearly, it was critical to winning.”

Budish acknowledges working hard at raising money. But his skill in bringing in dollars — honed when he raised funds for Cleveland’s Jewish Community Federation appeals and election campaigns of friends Lee Fisher and Eric Fingerhut — is not the only reason his colleagues elected him leader, he maintains.

State Rep. Stephen Slesnick (D-Canton) praises Budish for helping him get acclimated as a new legislator when he was appointed last year to fill out a term.

“He instilled in me the important fact that not only do I represent the people of my district, but I also represent the Jewish community as a whole,” Slesnick says.

Less than two months in the speaker’s seat, Budish says his job is to build consensus on important legislation.

He appoints the members and chairs of all committees and has created several new committees, including Economic Development and Housing and Urban Revitalization.

A diverse caucus

While Democrats outnumber Republicans 53 to 46, Budish notes that his caucus, whose members range from the very liberal to the very conservative and represent both urban and rural areas, “is a very diverse 53.”

“It’s a huge responsibility to lead the House in these terrible economic times,” he says. “But it’s a huge opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives.”

After his swearing-in ceremony in January, Budish outlined to the House his economic development proposals for Ohio.

Creating jobs and improving education are Ohio’s biggest challenges, he emphasized.

Economic efforts

As speaker, Budish and his leadership team get to set the legislative agenda.

“We spent more time in the last legislative session debating strip clubs than we spent on economic development,” he says, referring to a law the then-Republican controlled legislation passed. “My intention is that is not going to happen again.”

Along with the deepening economic recession, paying for public schools is the biggest issue facing the state, Budish says. One of his goals is reversing Ohio’s decline so that it’s a place “where our kids want to come back to live.”

But state government does not create jobs, he points out. “State government can create incentives, can create an atmosphere so that business wants to be here and grow here. It can support education critical to economic recovery.”

With the legislature in session Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Budish’s schedule can be grueling.

He’s in Columbus Sunday night through Thursday night, and drives back and forth to Northeast Ohio on the weekends — generally he’s also on the phone returning calls.

It’s difficult to find time to practice law, and seeing his family is his priority when he has free time here.

The sacrifices that being speaker requires are well worth it, he finds. “It’s a wonderful opportunity.”

Reprinted by permission from the Cleveland Jewish News. All rights reserved.