Edna Brown
Encyclopedia
Edna Brown of Toledo, Ohio
, is a Democratic member of the Ohio Senate
who has represented the 11th District since 2011. She served in the Ohio House of Representatives
from 2002-2010. Brown is minority whip for the 129th General Assembly.
When incumbent Jack Ford resigned from the House to become Mayor of Toledo, Ohio
, Brown was appointed to serve the remainder of his term. She was elected to a full term in 2002, defeating Republican Cathleen Voyles-Baden by 13,000 votes. Brown went on to win reelection in 2004, 2006, and 2008.
In 2004, Brown, C.J. Prentiss and Shirley Smith
were chosen to serve on the executive committee of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators during the organizations conference in Philadelphia. For the 127th General Assembly Brown served as second vice president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, and first vice president for the 128th General Assembly.
In 2009, Speaker of the House Armond Budish
named Brown as Chairman of the Human Services Subcommittee of the House Finance Committee.
in 2010, to replace the term limited Teresa Fedor
. She was expected to face Peter Ujvagi
in the primary election, but he was hired as Lucas County
Administrator.
The appointment of Ujvagi set up what many thought was going to be a legislative shuffle, where Fedor was appointed to Ujvagi's seat, and Brown then appointed to Fedor's seat. However, Toledo City Councilman Joe McNamara also sought the appointment to the Senate. As a result, Fedor kept her seat, Brown hers, and Joe Walter
was appointed to a nine-month term in Ujvagi's seat.
McNamara's entrance into the campaign reinvigorated a primary battle. Brown defeated McNamara by about 2,300 votes. She defeated Republican Tom Waniewski by 18,000 votes in the general election.
Brown was sworn into office on January 3, 2011, and is the first African-American to represent the city of Toledo] in the state Senate. For the 129th General Assembly, Senate colleagues elected Brown as Senate minority whip. She is a member of the Senate Rules Committee; Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Committee; Financial Institutions Committee; Health, Human Services and Aging Committee (as ranking member); Insurance, Commerce and Labor; and State and Local Government and Veterans Affairs. She also serves on the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund Board, the Correctional Institution
Inspection Committee and the Ohio Commission on Minority Health.
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, is a Democratic member of the Ohio Senate
Ohio Senate
The Ohio State Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body for the U.S. state of Ohio. There are 33 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Columbus. The President of the Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Tom...
who has represented the 11th District since 2011. She served in the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
from 2002-2010. Brown is minority whip for the 129th General Assembly.
Career
Brown has had a 32-year career as an employee with the city of Toledo, followed by a six-year tenure on Toledo City Council.When incumbent Jack Ford resigned from the House to become Mayor of Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, Brown was appointed to serve the remainder of his term. She was elected to a full term in 2002, defeating Republican Cathleen Voyles-Baden by 13,000 votes. Brown went on to win reelection in 2004, 2006, and 2008.
In 2004, Brown, C.J. Prentiss and Shirley Smith
Shirley Smith (politician)
Shirley Smith is a Democratic member of the Ohio Senate, who has represented the 21st District since 2007. Smith also serves as assistant minority leader in the Senate...
were chosen to serve on the executive committee of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators during the organizations conference in Philadelphia. For the 127th General Assembly Brown served as second vice president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, and first vice president for the 128th General Assembly.
In 2009, Speaker of the House Armond Budish
Armond Budish
Armond D. Budish is the Democratic representative for the 8th district of the Ohio House of Representatives. First elected into service during the 127th General Assembly of 2007, he was re-elected in the 128th, where he served as Speaker of the House...
named Brown as Chairman of the Human Services Subcommittee of the House Finance Committee.
Ohio Senate
In 2009, Brown stated that she would be a candidate for the Ohio SenateOhio Senate
The Ohio State Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body for the U.S. state of Ohio. There are 33 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Columbus. The President of the Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Tom...
in 2010, to replace the term limited Teresa Fedor
Teresa Fedor
Teresa Fedor is a Democratic member of the Ohio House of Representatives who has represented the 47th District since 2011. She represented the same district from 2001 to 2002, and was a member of the Ohio Senate from 2003 to 2010.-Life and career:...
. She was expected to face Peter Ujvagi
Peter Ujvagi
Peter Sandor Ujvagi is a former Hungarian-born American Democratic state representative of Ohio state in the 47th District, who represents Toledo and Lucas County.-Life and career:...
in the primary election, but he was hired as Lucas County
Lucas County, Ohio
----...
Administrator.
The appointment of Ujvagi set up what many thought was going to be a legislative shuffle, where Fedor was appointed to Ujvagi's seat, and Brown then appointed to Fedor's seat. However, Toledo City Councilman Joe McNamara also sought the appointment to the Senate. As a result, Fedor kept her seat, Brown hers, and Joe Walter
Joe Walter (Ohio politician)
Joe Walter is a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives, who represented the 47th District briefly in 2010. He was appointed following the resignation of Peter Ujvagi, who resigned to take the position of Lucas County Administrator....
was appointed to a nine-month term in Ujvagi's seat.
McNamara's entrance into the campaign reinvigorated a primary battle. Brown defeated McNamara by about 2,300 votes. She defeated Republican Tom Waniewski by 18,000 votes in the general election.
Brown was sworn into office on January 3, 2011, and is the first African-American to represent the city of Toledo] in the state Senate. For the 129th General Assembly, Senate colleagues elected Brown as Senate minority whip. She is a member of the Senate Rules Committee; Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Committee; Financial Institutions Committee; Health, Human Services and Aging Committee (as ranking member); Insurance, Commerce and Labor; and State and Local Government and Veterans Affairs. She also serves on the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund Board, the Correctional Institution
Inspection Committee and the Ohio Commission on Minority Health.