Lee Fisher - Life and Career

Life and Career

Fisher graduated from Oberlin College (later serving on the board of trustees for 12 years) and Case Western Reserve University School of Law (later receiving the first Distinguished Recent Graduate Award in 1984, and inducted into the Law School's Society of Benchers in 2009). He graduated from the Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management's Professional Fellows Program in 1996. In 2004, he received his Master Degree in Nonprofit Organization from the Case Western Reserve University Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations.

After graduation from law school, he was a law cleck for Judge Paul C.Weick of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit (1976–1977). In 1978, he joined the Cleveland law firm, Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP, and was an Instructor in Legal Research, Writing, and Advocacy at Cleveland State University Cleveland-Marshall College of Law during the 1978 school year. During his 10 years in the state legislature, he continued to serve as Of Counsel to the law firm(1978–1990). He rejoined Hahn Loser & Parks as a partner in 1995 and served as a partner until he was selected CEO of the Center for Families and Children in 1999.

At the age of 29, Fisher was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1981. He served as a state representative for two years before being elected to the Ohio Senate in 1982. He was named " Outstanding Freshman Legislator" by Columbus Monthly magazine in 1982. He served as a state senator for eight years. In 1983 he was named a Chase Public Leadership Fellow and attended the Harvard Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.

Fisher was elected Attorney General of Ohio in 1990, defeating Paul Pfeifer in the only statewide election in Ohio history to trigger a state-wide recount. In 1992, Fisher was elected a presidential elector for Ohio. Fisher served as Attorney General from 1991 to 1995,narrowly losing his bid for re-election in 1994 to Republican Betty Montgomery.

In 1998, Fisher ran for Governor but lost to Republican Bob Taft, 50%–45%, in the closest gubernatorial election in 28 years.

Joining the ticket of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland, Fisher was elected Lieutenant Governor in 2006. The Ohio gubernatorial campaign was captured in the documentary film Swing State, which was directed by (his son) Jason Zone-Fisher, John Intrater, and H. Spencer Young.

He has served on two public company boards: Rex Stores (now Rex American Resources) and Office Max (before it was sold to Boise Cascade).

He currently is a finalist for the position of Dean at the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University.

He is married to Peggy Zone Fisher, President/CEO of the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio.

He was also announced to be the new CEO and President of CEOs for Cities starting next week.