CLEVELAND — Two-term Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish will not seek a third term in 2022, he announced in a video message Tuesday. 

“This was not an easy decision,” Budish said. “It was the greatest honor of my life to serve as county executive. I am proud of the great work we have done together to improve the quality of life for all those most in need and to take Cleveland and Cuyahoga County to higher levels of economic growth and innovation.”

Budish cited two reasons for stepping down.

“First, I respect the limits of public service,” Budish said. “Leaders must know when it is the right time to step aside and pass the torch to new leadership with fresh ideas.”

Budish said as the first two-term county executive, he wants to set the “right precedent.”

“Second is the fact I love my wife Amy, my kids and my out-of-town grandchildren,” Budish added. “I have demoted myself to community service for the last 15 years working seven days a week, nights and weekends and now is the time to rebalance my priorities.” 

Budish is just the second county executive in Cuyahoga County history as the office was formed after a 2009 referendum. Budish replaced Ed Fitzgerald following the 2014 election when Fitzgerald opted to run for governor. 

According to results from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, Budish earned nearly 60% of the vote in 2014 and 67% in 2018. 

Prior to becoming county executive, Budish was a four-term member of the Ohio House of Representatives. In 2009, he became the first Democrat in 14 years to become speaker of the Ohio House. His tenure as speaker was short, however, as Republicans recaptured the House in 2011. He is the only Democrat since 1995 to have served as speaker of the Ohio House. 

Budish’s second term will conclude January 2023. 

“I want to make the next 14 months the most productive in history,” Budish said.