Grace L. Drake

Who is Grace L. Drake?

Grace Drake was a member of the Ohio Senate, serving the 22nd district from 1984 to 2000. Her district encompassed the eastern/southern portion of Cuyahoga County and all of Medina and Wayne counties. In 2000, she faced term limits, and was succeeded by Ron Amstutz.

State Senator Grace Drake began her political career as a campaign coordinator in Cuyahoga County. She was appointed to the Ohio Senate in May 1984, to replace Senator Bill Skall. In November 1984, she ran for that seat and defeated a sitting state representative two to one. Senator Drake served sixteen years and seven months in the Ohio Senate representing the southeastern portion of Cuyahoga County and all of Medina and Wayne counties.

Senator Drake chaired the Senate Health Committee since 1989, previously serving as chair of Economic Development and Small Business. She also served as a member of the committees on Agriculture, State and Local Governments, Judiciary and Civil Justices, Highways and Transportation, Finance and Financial Institutions, Rules, References, and Ways and Means. She also served as a member on the prestigious Controlling Board. Nationally, she has served as Chairman of the Human Services Committee of the State-Federal Assembly of the National Conference of State Legislatures and Co-Chair of the NCSL Task Force of Welfare Reform. She has served on several other committees of the National Conference of State Legislatures, Council of State Governments, and the American Legislative Exchange Council.