Basil Russo

Basil M. Russo (born December 8, 1946) is an American attorney, politician of the Democratic Party, and judge. He was majority leader of the Cleveland City Council and unsuccessfully ran in the 1979 Cleveland mayoral election. Later he served as a judge of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas and a judge of the Ohio's Eighth District Court of Appeals.

Russo served as managing partner of the law firm of Russo, Rosalina & Co, LPA from the firm's founding in 1978 until his retirement in 2014. In 2014, Basil was elected as president of the Italian Sons and Daughters of America. He is the father of Anthony and Joe Russo, directors of several successful Marvel superhero films, Angela Otstot, Senior Vice President of Story at AGBO Films, and Gabriella Rosalina, Managing Partner of Russo, Rosalina & Co.

Russo is the son of the late State Rep. and Cleveland ward leader Anthony J. and Domenica "Donnie" Russo. He is married to Patricia Russo. He is of Italian descent.

Russo received an undergraduate degree from John Carroll University and the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

Russo's two sons, Anthony and Joe, are Hollywood filmmakers, who are known for Welcome to Collinwood, You, Me and Dupree, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

Russo serves as National President of the Italian Sons and Daughters of America, www.orderisda.org; Member of the Board of Trustees of the National Italian American Foundation, Washington DC, www.niaf.org; Vice Chair of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations, New York City, www.copomiao.org; President of the Justinian Forum Italian American Bar Association, www.thejustinianforum.org; and Chairman of the Cleveland Italian Film Festival.

Russo initiated the creation of the Bishop Anthony Pilla Italian American Studies Program at John Carroll University. Russo and his wife Patricia served as Chairpersons of the Advisory Committee of the Marriage and Family Ministry of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese.

Freedom Award from the American Nationalities Movement, Cleveland International Hall of Fame Inductee, Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Award, Benedictine Italian Heritage Honoree, Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cleveland Italian American Heritage Committee, Special Recognition Award from the Italian American Festival Committee, Columbian Award from the Federation of Italian American Societies, Justinian Award from the Italian American Bar Association, Award of Excellence from the San Leone Society, ISDA Outstanding Young Man of the Year Award, Multiple United States Senatorial and Congressional Proclamations for various Accomplishments and Achievements sponsored and presented by: Senator Rob Portman, Senator Sherrod Brown, Senator George Voinovich, Senator Mike DeWine, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Congressman David P. Joyce, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, and Governor John Kasich.

Russoserved as majority leader of Cleveland City Council.

1979 Mayoral campaign

In July 1979, Russo announced that he would enter the 1979 Cleveland mayoral election, challenging fellow Democrat, the beleaguered incumbent Dennis Kucinich. Kuicinich was considered vulnerable, having narrowly survived a recall election the year before by just over 200 votes out of more than 120,000 votes. The field already included Ohio State Senator Charlie Butts and quickly grew in July with the addition of Republican George Voinovich, who was Lieutenant Governor of Ohio. Also, Thabo L. Ntweng of the socialist worker's party would also join the race. Russo would finish third in the nonpartisan primary in the crowded field, garnering a respectable 21,962, or 17.27%, behind eventual winner Voinovich and the incumbent Kuicinich.