A former assistant Ohio Attorney General, he served on Bexley City Council from 1995 to 1998.

Goodman was appointed to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1998 to succeed Jim Mason, who had resigned.

Goodman was again on the ballot in 2008, this time for a position on Ohio Tenth District Court of Appeals.

Soon after Goodman left office, Ohio Governor John Kasich named him as Commerce Director for his administration.

[5] On March 18, 2013, he was appointed director of the Development Services Agency, replacing Christiane Schmenk.