Observer County Executive Questions: Armond Budish

Name in full: Armond D. Budish

Age: 61

Family: Married to Amy Budish. Sons Ryan and Daniel

Education: B.A. Swarthmore, J.D. New York University

Current jobs held: Attorney – Budish, Solomon, Steiner & Peck, Ltd (since 1993); Self-employed (television program, newspaper and magazine column, book author)

Elected offices held: State Representative, 2007-Present; House Speaker 2009-2010; House Minority Leader 2011-2013

2. If you were grading Cuyahoga County's first time out of the box County Executive and Council, what grade would you give the current Administration and Council? What have they done well and what do they need to improve upon?

Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald and the County Council did a good job setting the foundation for the new government and restoring the public trust. Without the trust of the public, nothing else can be accomplished.  

In the first term since the new government was formed, Cuyahoga County has taken several important steps to prevent corruption. The County has adopted the strongest ethics standards in the State of Ohio. Cuyahoga County is the first county in the state to create its own inspector general, who will ensure that all members of government adhere to the highest ethical standards. To add an additional level of accountability, vendors and contractors must now be vetted through the most stringent procurement policies in the County’s history.

Most important, we need leaders of honesty and integrity. With thousands of employees and a $1.3 billion budget, it is essential for our future leaders to set the tone for ethical conduct on a daily basis and be prepared to act when problems do arise. As County Executive, I will do just that.

Looking forward, we must focus on job creation, building on our region’s strengths in health care, broadband fiber, manufacturing and water. We must better align job training and education with the thousands of jobs currently open but unfilled because employers cannot find employees with the right skills and training to fill those jobs. We must help local communities save money with shared purchasing and services. And we must aggressively reach out to those most in need to make sure they understand and can access the programs available to lift them up.

3. Explain how, given your background and experience, you plan to address the areas that you noted above as those that could be improved upon? Please be as specific as you can.

The largest portion on our budget is spent on delivery of social services. My focus on helping older people and their families cope with the challenges of aging has given me great familiarity and experience with many of our social service programs. I understand what works and what doesn’t work, and I will make sure that our programs are more people friendly.

Thousands of Cuyahoga County residents are eligible for veterans, healthcare, food assistance, and other benefits programs, but have not signed up. These programs can make a huge difference in people’s lives. Yet many people are not enrolled because they don’t understand that they are eligible, or because these government programs are often too complicated and intimidating. The County has the responsibility to reach out to residents where they are and deliver services to residents in need. When we stabilize families, we stabilize our communities and benefit everyone in the long run.

It is also important that our next County Executive understands how to bring people together. Government is not simply a business where a single executive or board can act unilaterally- we must build consensus and support from the community to achieve common goals. I have demonstrated those abilities in my work bringing people together as Speaker of the Ohio House when I passed a budget and other important legislation with a Republican Senate. Many of the county’s elected officials support my candidacy because they know I have a history of bringing people together to reach solutions.

4. If you are elected, how will the average citizen of Cuyahoga County, be able to tell that things are improving because of your work?

Under my leadership, the County administration will be transparent and accountable. We will let citizens know what’s working and what’s not. We will seek the input of people throughout the County to let us know their views of what works and how our programs may be improved.

Job creation and training will be a priority for the County under my leadership, and hopefully citizens will be able to see success as more people get good paying jobs.

When more of our children choose to remain here or move back to the County to work and raise a family, that will be a measure of success.

When we see more of our residents covered by health care, including private insurance and Medicaid for those who are eligible, that will be a measure of success.

When we bring down the shameful rate of infant mortality, that will be a measure of success.

When more of our communities are saving money by sharing purchasing and services, that will be a measure of success. 

5. What other key issues, program, policies, etc., not already discussed, do you plan to take on if you are elected to the job of County Executive? 

We must also recognize that the County has new responsibilities as we move forward. We need to expand the County’s role in economic development and education. 

We are in the midst of a capital crisis in the Midwest and Ohio, which makes it difficult for new businesses to get started and to grow. The County can and should play a lead role in supporting our entrepreneurs and small businesses.

We have a unique asset: our Lake Erie. We sit on the largest basin of fresh water in the world, the Great Lakes. Yet our lakefront is under-utilized, and we can do much more to use our fresh water to attract businesses to our region.

Our children are our future, and education is key. Two potential avenues I’d like to see the County pursue: high quality early childhood education for all our kids, regardless of their parents’ income; and a Cuyahoga version of the Pittsburgh Promise, making it possible for any high school graduate to obtain a higher education regardless of ability to pay. 

This is an exciting time for our County, and I am extremely excited about the potential for great things for the people of our region.

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Volume 6, Issue 11, Posted 12:44 PM, 10.22.2014