Stan Aronoff
Encyclopedia
Stanley J. Aronoff is an American politician of the Republican party who served for a time as president of the Ohio Senate. Aronoff was raised in a Jewish family in the North Avondale neighborhood of Cincinnati and attended high school at Walnut Hills High School
. He earned a bachelor's degree and a law degree from Harvard University
, after which he returned to Cincinnati to enter into the private practice of law.
In 1960, Ambrose Lindhorst (the head of the Hamilton County
Republican Party), Walton Bachrach (mayor of Cincinnati), and Republican operative George Eyrich persuaded Aronoff to run for a seat in the Ohio General Assembly
. He began serving in the Ohio House of Representatives
in 1961 and was re-elected twice, serving until 1967.
In 1966, Aronoff won a seat in the Ohio Senate
. He was reelected in 1968, and again in 1972. In the 1974 primary election, he made an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for Ohio Attorney General
. He won reelection to the Senate in 1976.
In 1978, Aronoff sought the party's nomination for a seat in the United States House of Representatives
, but party bosses endorsed television news broadcaster Thearon "Tom" Atkins instead. It was suspected that with the Jewish Bill Gradison
already representing the Hamilton County Republican Party in Congress, that party leaders shied away from endorsing another Jew for Cincinnati's other congressional seat. Nevertheless, Aronoff prevailed in the Republican primary, but lost in the general election in a close race to Democrat Tom Luken
.
By the 1980 elections, the Republican party achieved a majority in the Ohio Senate, and Aronoff was named chairman of the Finance Committee. However, the party was again in the minority two years later. In the 1984 campaign, Aronoff's success at fundraising was key to the Republican recapture of the Senate. The Senate Republican leader was Paul Gillmor
, but when Gillmor won a seat in Congress in 1988, Aronoff became President of the Senate.
In 1995, Aronoff —- along with other legislators, such as Democratic Ohio House of Representatives
Speaker Vern Riffe
-- was the subject of an investigation into "fee pancaking". The law required that legislators disclose the acceptance of a speaking fee if it is in excess of $500. "Pancaking" involved accepting fees of less than $500 from more than one source for the same event in order to avoid disclosure. Aronoff pleaded guilty to accepting $4,500 in fees from various arms of The Limited company without disclosure in violation of this law. He was sentenced to community service, which he fulfilled by giving lectures to students on government ethics.
By 1996, term limits were in effect. Aronoff was eligible to run for one more term in the Senate. However, he decided to retire from public services. He helped found the law firm of Aronoff, Rosen and Hunt.
Walnut Hills High School (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Walnut Hills High School is a public college-preparatory high school in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. Operated by the Cincinnati Public Schools, it houses grades seven through twelve and maintains a culturally diverse student body. The school has been given an excellent rating by the Ohio...
. He earned a bachelor's degree and a law degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, after which he returned to Cincinnati to enter into the private practice of law.
In 1960, Ambrose Lindhorst (the head of the Hamilton County
Hamilton County, Ohio
As of 2000, there were 845,303 people, 346,790 households, and 212,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,075 people per square mile . There were 373,393 housing units at an average density of 917 per square mile...
Republican Party), Walton Bachrach (mayor of Cincinnati), and Republican operative George Eyrich persuaded Aronoff to run for a seat in the Ohio General Assembly
Ohio General Assembly
The Ohio General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio. It consists of the 99-member Ohio House of Representatives and the 33-member Ohio Senate...
. He began serving in the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
in 1961 and was re-elected twice, serving until 1967.
In 1966, Aronoff won a seat in the Ohio Senate
Ohio Senate
The Ohio State Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body for the U.S. state of Ohio. There are 33 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Columbus. The President of the Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Tom...
. He was reelected in 1968, and again in 1972. In the 1974 primary election, he made an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for Ohio Attorney General
Ohio Attorney General
The Ohio Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Ohio in the United States. The office is filled by general election, held every four years. The Ohio Attorney General is Mike DeWine.-History:...
. He won reelection to the Senate in 1976.
In 1978, Aronoff sought the party's nomination for a seat in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, but party bosses endorsed television news broadcaster Thearon "Tom" Atkins instead. It was suspected that with the Jewish Bill Gradison
Bill Gradison
Willis David "Bill" Gradison Jr. is an American politician, who served for almost two decades in the U.S. House of Representatives.-Early life and education:...
already representing the Hamilton County Republican Party in Congress, that party leaders shied away from endorsing another Jew for Cincinnati's other congressional seat. Nevertheless, Aronoff prevailed in the Republican primary, but lost in the general election in a close race to Democrat Tom Luken
Tom Luken
Thomas Andrew Luken is a politician of the Democratic Party from Ohio.Luken received his high school diploma in 1942 from Purcell High School. During the Second World War, Luken served as a U.S. Marine. In 1947, he earned a bachelor of arts degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati, after having...
.
By the 1980 elections, the Republican party achieved a majority in the Ohio Senate, and Aronoff was named chairman of the Finance Committee. However, the party was again in the minority two years later. In the 1984 campaign, Aronoff's success at fundraising was key to the Republican recapture of the Senate. The Senate Republican leader was Paul Gillmor
Paul Gillmor
Paul Eugene Gillmor was an American politician of the Republican Party who served as the U.S. Representative from the 5th congressional district of Ohio from 1989 until his death....
, but when Gillmor won a seat in Congress in 1988, Aronoff became President of the Senate.
In 1995, Aronoff —- along with other legislators, such as Democratic Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
Speaker Vern Riffe
Vern Riffe
Vernal G. Riffe Jr. was an American politician of the Democratic party. Riffe served for many years in the Ohio House of Representatives and was the longest serving speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives in the history of that institution, holding that office for 20 years.-Life and political...
-- was the subject of an investigation into "fee pancaking". The law required that legislators disclose the acceptance of a speaking fee if it is in excess of $500. "Pancaking" involved accepting fees of less than $500 from more than one source for the same event in order to avoid disclosure. Aronoff pleaded guilty to accepting $4,500 in fees from various arms of The Limited company without disclosure in violation of this law. He was sentenced to community service, which he fulfilled by giving lectures to students on government ethics.
By 1996, term limits were in effect. Aronoff was eligible to run for one more term in the Senate. However, he decided to retire from public services. He helped found the law firm of Aronoff, Rosen and Hunt.