Larry Householder

Larry Lee Householder (born June 6, 1959)[1] is an American politician who is the state representative for Ohio's 72nd District and was a two-time Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party. His district includes Coshocton and Perry counties, as well as about half of Licking County. Householder represented the same district from 1997 to 2004, including as speaker from 2001 to 2004. In 2016 he was elected to the Statehouse again and on January 7, 2019, he was selected to serve again as speaker. On July 21, 2020, the FBI arrested Householder on federal RICO charges.[2][3][4] The charges allege that his return to politics in 2016 was part of a criminal conspiracy.[3]

Larry Householder
Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives
In office
January 7, 2019 – July 30, 2020
Preceded byRyan Smith
Succeeded byRobert R. Cupp
In office
January 3, 2001 – December 31, 2004
Preceded byJo Ann Davidson
Succeeded byJon A. Husted
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 72nd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded byBill Hayes
Succeeded byTBD
In office
January 3, 1997 – December 31, 2004
Preceded byMary Abel
Succeeded byRon Hood
Personal details
Born
Larry Lee Householder

(1959-06-06) June 6, 1959
Zanesville, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceGlenford, Ohio
EducationOhio University (BS)

On July 30, 2020, the Ohio House of Representatives unanimously removed Householder as speaker.[5]

Life and career

Born in Zanesville, Ohio, Householder was raised in Junction City, Ohio, where he worked on the family farm.[1][6] He then attended Ohio University, receiving a degree in political science.[7] He is married with five children.

Householder ran an insurance agency and served as Perry County Commissioner before seeking higher office. In 1996, he ran for State Representative from Ohio's 78th district, challenging incumbent Democrat Mary Abel of Athens.[8] Householder defeated Abel with 55.03% of the vote. He was reelected three times.[8]

In 1998, Householder was elected to serve as assistant majority whip.[9] In 2001, he was elected to serve as Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, the highest post in the House.[10] He served two terms as speaker, during which he led major legislative reforms, including introducing concealed carry, passing tort reform and defunding Planned Parenthood—making Ohio the first state to do so.[11]

In 2004, Householder and several top advisers were under federal investigation for alleged money laundering and irregular campaign practices. The government closed the case without filing charges.[12] He was term-limited in 2004.[13] Householder later served as a Perry County Auditor.[14]

Return to the Ohio House of Representatives

When incumbent state Representative Bill Hayes ran for Licking County Prosecutor in 2016, Householder ran for his old seat, renamed District 72 after redistricting.[15] Householder defeated Cliff N. Biggers in the Republican primary with almost 64% of the vote. He won the general election against Democrat John Carlisle with 72% of the vote.[16] A former Speaker, Householder became a freshman legislator along with former President of the Ohio Senate Keith Faber.[17] On January 7, 2019, a bipartisan majority of legislators elected him to serve again as speaker of the Ohio House.[18]

Library programming controversy

In May 2019, Householder criticized the Ohio Library Council and the Newark Library in Licking County for providing an event for teens in the LGBTQ community at the taxpayers' expense. In response, the Newark Ohio Pride Coalition issued a formal statement noting that their organization paid for the event with a non-governmental grant.[19] Later that evening, the Newark Library canceled the event.[20] The Newark Ohio Pride Coalition found a new location for it.[21] After his arrest for racketeering in 2020, the event organizers publicly asked Householder to reflect upon his own advice about being a good steward of public money.[22]

Arrest
Main article: Ohio nuclear bribery scandal

On July 21, 2020, the FBI arrested Householder and four others in connection with a $60 million bribery case involving the financial rescue of FirstEnergy's two nuclear plants in Ohio, Davis–Besse and Perry. U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers called it "likely the largest bribery scheme ever perpetrated against the state of Ohio".[23][24][25] During a July 21 press briefing, DeVillers said that money from FirstEnergy was filtered through a fake nonprofit organization to pay for bribes and evade campaign finance laws.[3] Following DeVillers's press conference, Governor Mike DeWine asked Householder to resign.[26] Later that day, Householder released a statement to the press saying he would not resign.[27]

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References
  1. "Sir Knight Larry Householder: Buckeye State Speaker of the House". Knights Templar. June 2002. p. 18. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  2. "Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder arrested in $60 million bribery case". usastoday.com. USAToday. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  3. "Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder arrested; U.S. Attorney, FBI announce charges related to $60 mi". WCMH NBC 4 Columbus. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  4. "Larry Householder, 4 others face racketeering conspiracy charges in federal court". daytondailynews.com. Dayton Daily News. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  5. Tobias, Andrew J. (July 30, 2020). "Ohio House votes to remove Larry Householder as Ohio Speaker following corruption arrest". cleveland.
  6. Siegel, Jim (July 2, 2017). "Big personalities, bigger caucus pose challenges for Ohio House Speaker". Canton Repository. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  7. Ingles, Jo (January 2, 2017). "Ohio's House Speaker Worries Term Limits Will Decrease Experienced Lawmakers in 2017". WKSU. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  8. Linfante, Austin (October 25, 2016). "For the 94th District race, it's Grace's historical precedent versus Edwards' hometown geography". The New Political.
  9. "Ohio House of Representatives: November 3, 1998 - Ohio Secretary of State". www.sos.state.oh.us.
  10. "The Blade". The Blade.
  11. "Cincinnati Enquirer". Cincinnati.com.
  12. Snyder, Kate; Thompson, Chrissie (April 19, 2018). "Householder files lawsuit over negative advertising". Zanesville Times Recorder. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  13. Suddes, Thomas. "Larry Householder's possible second act, Mount Denali follies: Thomas Suddes". cleveland.com.
  14. "The Buckeye Lake Beacon". The Buckeye Lake Beacon.
  15. "Ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder running for old seat". The Columbus Dispatch. December 16, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  16. "Larry Householder's possible second act, Mount Denali follies: Thomas Suddes". Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  17. "Ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder eyeing old seat". The Washington Times. November 30, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  18. "Larry Householder Again Elected Speaker of the Ohio House". Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  19. Taylor March 6, 2019, Jeff. "Ohio Library Cancels Pride Event After Republican House Speaker Complains". LOGO News.
  20. "Ohio House Speaker criticizes Licking County Library's LGBTQ event; library cancels". Associated Press. WBNS-TV. June 1, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  21. McDonald, Craig. "Canceled LGBTQ teen event back on, moves to Newark's Denison Art Space". The Newark Advocate.
  22. https://www.dispatch.com/opinion/20200729/column-householderrsquos-criticism-of-pride-event-applies-better-to-himself
  23. Rouan, Rick; Ludlow, Randy (July 21, 2020). "Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder arrested in $60 million bribery case". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  24. Coolidge, Sharon; Horn, Dan; Balmert, Jessie (July 21, 2020). "Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder arrested in $60 million bribery case". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  25. Smyth, Julie Carr; Seewer, John (July 21, 2020). "Ohio House speaker, 4 others arrested in $60M bribery case". news.yahoo.com. Associated Press. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  26. "DeWine Calls on Householder to Resign Following Bribery Allegations". WCMH-TV NBC 4 Columbus. July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  27. Pelzer, Jeremy (July 21, 2020). "House Speaker Larry Householder says he won't resign despite arrest". www.msn.com. The Plain Dealer. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
Ohio House of Representatives
Preceded by
Mary Abel		 Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 72nd district
1997–2004		 Succeeded by
Ron Hood
Preceded by
Bill Hayes		 Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 72nd district
2017–present		 Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Jo Ann Davidson		 Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives
2001–2004		 Succeeded by
Jon A. Husted
Preceded by
Ryan Smith		 Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives
2019–2020		 Succeeded by
Robert R. Cupp
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