NE Ohio Democrat selected as state House speaker

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- House Democrats selected state Rep. Armond Budish as the next Speaker of the House as they chose a new leadership team Tuesday night.

With a new Democratic majority in the chamber, Budish will replace Republican Jon Husted as Speaker.

Democrats gained their first majority in the House in 14 years on Election Day, two years after Ted Strickland in 2006 won election as the state's first Democratic governor in 16 years.

Budish, of Beachwood in northeast Ohio, takes over as the chief Democrat in the House when current House Democratic Leader Joyce Beatty of Columbus leaves at the end of the year due to term limits.

Matt Szollosi of Toledo will serve as speaker pro tempore; Jennifer Garrison of Marietta in southeast Ohio will be majority floor leader; Tracy Maxwell Heard of Columbus was selected assistant majority floor leader; Jay Goyal of Mansfield in central Ohio will be majority whip and Allan Sayre of Dover in eastern Ohio was chosen assistant majority whip.

Republicans continue to control the state Senate.