Tracy Maxwell Heard
Encyclopedia
Tracy Maxwell Heard is the representative for the 26th district of the Ohio House of Representatives
and the minority whip. She is a graduate of the University of Akron
.
, Heard worked as a noncompliance auditor for Banc of America Practice Solutions, as well as for the Livingston Avenue Collaborative for Community Development. Her mother-in-law is a former Columbus
School Board member. She was launched into politics following campaign work on the President Bill Clinton
's 1996 Presidential Campaign, and went on to work in the Ohio Senate
as a legislative aide. Heard is also known for her former roles as a news anchor.
was only in his first term, both Heard and businessman Clarence Glover decided to try to unseat him in 2006. Benefiting from good name recognition, Tracy defeated Mitchell, just as he had defeated an incumbent two years earlier, by about 1,600 votes. In the 2006 general election, Heard faced Michael D. Elicson, but easily defeated him by around 20,000 votes.
Heard, in her first term, was elected as Secretary for the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, and early on in her career, was also mentioned as a potential member of leadership in the future. In 2008, Heard won reelection over Republican Joseph Healy by a staggering 32,000 votes. Subsequently, Heard was named by colleagues as assistant majority leader for the 128th General Assembly. She also went on to serve as president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation.
When Majority Leader Jennifer Garrison
stepped down from her leadership role in late 2009 to focus on a bid for Ohio Secretary of State, Heard was tabbed to replace her, and moved up from assistant. Speaker of the House Armond Budish
also appointed Heard to Chairman of the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee after former Chairman Linda Bolon
stepped down early in 2010.
While many of the 2010 races were very contentious, Heard was reelected easily to a third term, beating Republican Joseph Healy once again, by about 19,000 votes. However, as Democrats lost the majority, Heard lost her majority leader role, and in the 129th General Assembly serves as minority whip. She also serves on the committees of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Insurance, Local Government; Rules and Reference; and Economic and Small Business Development, as well as a member of the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee.
A opponent of charter schools, Heard has come out against a budgetary proposal to quadruple the amount of vouchers available for children to be sent to the schools. She has stated that they are ill prepared for what they could potentially face.
In regards to Senate Bill 5, Heard has accused Ohio Governor John Kasich
, claiming that political theatrics are being used in regards to compromise for the bill.
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....
and the minority whip. She is a graduate of the University of Akron
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
.
Life and career
After graduating from the University of AkronUniversity of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
, Heard worked as a noncompliance auditor for Banc of America Practice Solutions, as well as for the Livingston Avenue Collaborative for Community Development. Her mother-in-law is a former Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
School Board member. She was launched into politics following campaign work on the President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
's 1996 Presidential Campaign, and went on to work in 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...
as a legislative aide. Heard is also known for her former roles as a news anchor.
Ohio House of Representatives
Although the 26th District had long been a Democratic seat and incumbent Representative Mike MitchellMike Mitchell (Ohio politician)
Mike Mitchell is a former Ohio Representative representing the 26th District, based out of Columbus, Ohio.-References:* "". Peace Corps official site. Accessed 5 January 2007....
was only in his first term, both Heard and businessman Clarence Glover decided to try to unseat him in 2006. Benefiting from good name recognition, Tracy defeated Mitchell, just as he had defeated an incumbent two years earlier, by about 1,600 votes. In the 2006 general election, Heard faced Michael D. Elicson, but easily defeated him by around 20,000 votes.
Heard, in her first term, was elected as Secretary for the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, and early on in her career, was also mentioned as a potential member of leadership in the future. In 2008, Heard won reelection over Republican Joseph Healy by a staggering 32,000 votes. Subsequently, Heard was named by colleagues as assistant majority leader for the 128th General Assembly. She also went on to serve as president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation.
When Majority Leader Jennifer Garrison
Jennifer Garrison
Jennifer Garrison is an American politician of the Democratic party from Marietta, Ohio. She served terms representing the 93rd District in the Ohio House of Representatives, which includes Guernsey, Monroe, Noble counties, most of Washington County, and part of Muskingum County, all in southeast...
stepped down from her leadership role in late 2009 to focus on a bid for Ohio Secretary of State, Heard was tabbed to replace her, and moved up from assistant. 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...
also appointed Heard to Chairman of the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee after former Chairman Linda Bolon
Linda Bolon
Linda S. Bolon is a Democratic politician who served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 1st District from 2007 to 2010. A lifelong resident of Columbiana County, Bolon graduated from Columbus University...
stepped down early in 2010.
While many of the 2010 races were very contentious, Heard was reelected easily to a third term, beating Republican Joseph Healy once again, by about 19,000 votes. However, as Democrats lost the majority, Heard lost her majority leader role, and in the 129th General Assembly serves as minority whip. She also serves on the committees of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Insurance, Local Government; Rules and Reference; and Economic and Small Business Development, as well as a member of the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee.
House initiatives and positions
Heard has introduced an initiative to create a uniform, statewide process for dealing with and counting provisional ballots during elections, stating the legislation "will ensure the voter is directed to the correct precinct, and it will require the poll worker to identify the voter's correct precinct on the form. If the checklist is not completed correctly it will constitute poll worker error and the voter's ballot will count."A opponent of charter schools, Heard has come out against a budgetary proposal to quadruple the amount of vouchers available for children to be sent to the schools. She has stated that they are ill prepared for what they could potentially face.
In regards to Senate Bill 5, Heard has accused Ohio Governor John Kasich
John Kasich
John Richard Kasich is the 69th and current Governor of Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1983 to 2001...
, claiming that political theatrics are being used in regards to compromise for the bill.