Tracy Maxwell Heard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tracy Heard
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| Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 26th district |
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| In office January 2, 2007 – December 31, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Mike Mitchell |
| Succeeded by | Hearcel Craig |
| House Minority Leader | |
| In office June 1, 2013 – December 31, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Armond Budish |
| Succeeded by | Fred Strahorn |
| House Minority Whip | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – June 1, 2013 |
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| Leader | Armond Budish |
| Preceded by | John Adams |
| Succeeded by | Michael Ashford |
| House Majority Leader | |
| In office October 21, 2009 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Jennifer Garrison |
| Succeeded by | Matt Huffman |
| House Assistant Majority Leader | |
| In office January 5, 2009 – October 21, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Jim Carmichael |
| Succeeded by | Allan Sayre |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 3, 1963 Columbus, Ohio |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Akron (B.A.) |
| Profession | Auditor, News Anchor, Community Developer |
Tracy Maxwell Heard was born on February 3, 1963. She is a former leader in the Ohio House of Representatives. She held important roles like Minority Leader, Minority Whip, Assistant Majority Leader, and Majority Leader. She made history as the first African-American woman to be a Majority Leader in Ohio.
Tracy Heard is a member of the Democratic Party. She represented Ohio's 26th House district from 2006 to 2014. This district covers parts of Franklin County, including areas in central, eastern, and southern Columbus.
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Tracy Heard's Early Life and Career
Tracy Heard studied at the University of Akron. After college, she worked as an auditor, checking financial records for a company. She also worked for a group that helped develop communities.
Her journey into politics began when she helped with President Bill Clinton's election campaign in 1996. Later, she worked for the Ohio Senate, helping lawmakers. Many people also know Tracy Heard from her time as a news anchor, where she reported the news.
Serving in the Ohio House of Representatives
In 2006, Tracy Heard decided to run for a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives. She won the election and became the representative for the 26th District. She was re-elected several times, showing strong support from voters.
During her time in the House, Tracy Heard took on many leadership roles. For example, she was elected secretary for the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus. This group works to support African-American lawmakers and their communities.
Leadership Roles in the House
In 2008, Tracy Heard became the Assistant Majority Leader for the Democratic Party. This was a big step in her career. She was the first Democratic assistant majority leader in many years. She also led the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation.
In 2009, she became the Majority Leader. This meant she was in charge of guiding the Democratic Party's plans in the House. She was also chosen to lead the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.
After the 2010 election, the Democratic Party lost control of the Ohio House. Tracy Heard then became the Minority Whip. This role involves making sure party members vote together on important issues. Later, she became the Minority Leader, leading the entire Democratic group in the House. She served her final term until 2014, as there are limits on how long a person can serve.
Important Ideas and Stances
Tracy Heard worked on several important issues during her time in the House.
Voting Process Improvements
She introduced a plan to make voting easier and fairer for everyone. Her idea was to create a clear process for "provisional ballots." These are ballots used when a voter's registration is unclear. She wanted to make sure these votes would count if the voter was in the right place.
Views on Schools
Tracy Heard was not in favor of increasing money for "charter schools" through "vouchers." Charter schools are public schools that operate independently. Vouchers are like coupons that help parents pay for private school tuition. She believed that some of these schools might not be ready for more students.
Thoughts on State Laws
She also spoke out about Senate Bill 5, a law that affected public workers. She believed that some political actions around this bill were not helpful for finding a good solution.
