State Senator Charleta Tavares

State Senator Charleta Tavares
Country: 
USA
Parliament: 
Ohio Senate
Party: 
Democratic Party
Last Election: 
2010
Upcoming Election: 
2014
Member of the following: 

Member of:

  • Finance;
  • Medicaid Finance Subcommittee;
  • Medicaid, Health and Human Services;
  • Public Safety, Local Government and Veterans Affairs;
  • Ways and Means;
  • Tax Reform Ways and Means Subcommittee;
  • Workforce and Economic Development.
Other current affiliations: 
  • Women's Action for New Direction (WAND) / Women Legislator's Libby (WiLL) (Education Fund Board);
  • Executive Director of Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competence (MACC)
Previous other affiliations: 
  • Former Board Member, National League of Cities Board of Directors (NLC);
  • NLC Advisory Council (Chair);
  • National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, NBC-LEO (President-Elect);
  • Central Community House (President);
  • Metropolitan Human Services Commission (Secretary);
  • Ohio Commission on Minority Health. (Commissioner);
  • The National Black Caucus of State Legislators;
  • National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women;
  • Women in Government (Director) 
Bio: 

Charleta B. Tavares (D-Columbus) was elected to serve Ohio's 15th Senate District in November, 2010. She is a committed public servant who served as a member of Columbus City Council from 1999 to 2010. Tavares' state and national reputation as a leader in the areas of health and human services was instrumental in her appointment to serve as the Chair of the Columbus City Council's Health & Human Development Committee. In Council, she also chaired the Housing Committee. Prior to joining Council, Tavares left a legacy for the citizens of Ohio during her 5 ½ year tenure in the Ohio General Assembly as the State Representative in the 22nd House District. Tavares was the first African-American female to serve in the state legislature from Franklin County and the first African-American woman ever to hold a leadership position in the Ohio General Assembly.

Tavares currently serves as Executive Director of Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competence (MACC), a statewide non-profit membership organization whose mission is to enhance the quality of care in Ohio's behavioral healthcare system and to incorporate cultural competence into systems and organizations that provide care to Ohio's vulnerable and at risk populations.

Tavares formerly served as the Chief of the Children's Protection Section in the Ohio Attorney General's Office. In this position, she played a leadership role in developing and advocating for policy and legislative initiatives to protect the health, safety, education and security of Ohio's children. She also served four years as Associate Director of the Public Children Services Association of Ohio and as a Legislative Assistant and chief staff person to the Human Resources Subcommittee of the Ohio House Finance-Appropriations Committee.