Last week, state Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) was officially elected and sworn in as the state senator for Ohio’s 11th Senate District to serve out the unexpired term of Senator Teresa Fedor, which will end December 31.
“Serving the City of Toledo as the representative for Ohio’s 44th House District was an incredible honor, and I am so grateful for the support of my constituents,” said Hicks-Hudson. “Now, I have the privilege of serving much of Lucas County as the Senator for Ohio’s 11th Senate District, and I could not be more excited to get to work.”
During Senator Hicks-Hudson’s 35-year professional career, she has served as the first Black female mayor of Toledo and worked as assistant Lucas County prosecutor, assistant public defender and assistant state attorney general. From 1998-2002, she served as the legislative director of the Toledo City Council. Following that, she served as the director and deputy director of the Lucas County Board of Elections and chief legal counsel to the Ohio Office of Budget and Management under Governor Ted Strickland. Most recently, she represented Ohio’s 44th House District.
“Throughout my time at the Statehouse, I’ve made it my duty to ensure the voices and interests of Northwest Ohioans are heard and understood by my fellow legislators,” said Hicks-Hudson. “As a Senator, I promise to keep advocating for legislation that will benefit not only the people of Lucas County but all of Ohio.”
From negotiating labor contracts for Ohio Shared Services Center and teaching domestic relations law, to conducting voter education activities for Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Sen. Hicks-Hudson has advocated for a diverse range of issues in a holistic and sensible way.
Outside of her dedicated, successful professional career, she enjoys many rich connections and activities with family and friends. She was married to her husband, Freeman W. Hudson, from 1973 until his passing in 2018, and is the proud mother of two adult daughters, Patricia Hope and Leah Free Star, and grandmother of seven grandchildren. An accomplished musician, Hicks-Hudson serves as the minister of music at Redeemer Lutheran Church.