Candidate for
Lt Governor; State of Ohio

Charleta Bell Tavares is a committed public servant who was appointed and then elected in 1999 to Columbus City Council. 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 Council's Health, Housing and Human Services Committee. In addition, she serves on the Finance, Development, Utilities, Rules and Reference and Zoning Committees.

Prior to joining Council, Tavares left a legacy for the citizens of Ohio during her 5½ 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 (Minority Whip).

Prior to her terms in the Legislature, she 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.

Councilwoman Tavares, a native of Columbus, is actively involved in the community. Her primary focus is in the areas of education, health, housing and human services. She currently serves on the boards of the Central Ohio Breathing Association, Columbus Compact, Franklin County Family and Children First Council, Franklin County Educational Council Foundation, and the Franklin County Criminal Justice Planning Board. She is also a member of Corporate Sisters, Ohio Business and Professional Women's Organization, the Ohio Municipal League, National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials and the National League of Cities Human Development Steering Committee.

She previously served as a member of the boards of Central Community House (President), Metropolitan Human Services Commission (Secretary), and as a commissioner of the Ohio Commission on Minority Health.

Tavares is nationally recognized for her leadership and served until December 1998 on the Executive Boards of The National Black Caucus of State Legislators, National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women and served as the state director of Women in Government (WIG). As a leader with WIG, she was instrumental in working to develop the "Managed Care Consumer Protection Act," model legislation which was nationally unveiled and introduced in 14 states, including Ohio, simultaneously.

She has received numerous national and state honors and awards including the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill's Legislative Leadership Award for her work in drug, alcohol and mental health parity legislation, Women Legislator's Lobby 1997 Leader in Women's Health Award, Friends of the Homeless Leadership Award, NASW-Ohio Chapter Legislator of the Year Award, Metropolitan Area Church Council's Living Faith Award, Southeast Mental Health's Public Official of the Year and the Franklin County Prevention Institute's Partner in Prevention Award (drug and alcohol) to name a few. Most recently, Council Member Tavares was named a 2001 YWCA Woman of Achievement. In addition, she was selected as one of 35- 1996 Flemming Fellows, a member of the American Council of Young Political Leaders and the Darden Institute's Executive Leadership Program.

Tavares is a founding member and former Vice President of the Columbus Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. She serves on the Executive Committees of the Franklin County and Ohio Democratic Party and served as a member of the 1988 Platform Committee and a delegate to the 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000 Democratic National Conventions.

Tavares is a graduate of Eastmoor High School and attended Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia and The Ohio State University. She and her husband Michael reside on the southeast side of Columbus.