William Batchelder (left) and Armond Budish (center) will once again be part of the leadership in the Ohio House of Representatives. / AP file photo
Paul E. Kostyu reports:
The new General Assembly convenes today – and there’s nary a Southwest Ohioan in GOP leadership, which controls both chambers. That’s a big change.
Southwest Ohio Republicans and Democrats have had leading roles in both the Ohio Senate and House for decades.
In the last two-year session, Southwest Ohio Republicans held three key spots – Senate president, senate majority whip and speaker pro tempore in the House, which is second in command.
The region’s only surviving leader is Sen. Eric H. Kearney of North Avondale, the top Democrat as minority leader, a post he’s held for two years.
Does this mean anything? Some people think so.
• Interactive: Ohio’s geography of power
“This is something we should worry about,” former Senate President Stanley J. Aronoff told The Enquirer.
What does having people from the Greater Cincinnati Metropolitan area in leadership positions mean? Well, money, for one. Lots of it.
