Paula Hicks-Hudson is a Democratic state senator representing Ohio Senate District 11 , serving since 2022. She is the first Black female mayor of Toledo and previously served two terms in the Ohio House for District 44. Notable achievements include her roles as Toledo City Council President , Assistant Minority Whip in the Ohio Senate , and advocacy for infrastructure funding, women's reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, labor protections, and education. She has a 35-year career in public service and law, including positions as assistant Lucas County prosecutor, assistant public defender, assistant state attorney general, legislative director for Toledo City Council , director/deputy director of Lucas County Board of Elections, and chief legal counsel to the Ohio Office of Budget and Management under Governor Ted Strickland. She maintains a private law practice and has served on boards like NAACP, YWCA, and Thurgood Marshall Law Association .

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Journalism from Spelman College; Master's degree in Communications Development from Colorado State University. She taught criminal justice/domestic relations law at the University of Toledo College of Law.
• Political Experience:
  • Appointed to Toledo City Council District 4 , elected in special/general elections.
  • Toledo City Council President .
  • Mayor of Toledo after Mayor Michael Collins' death.
  • Ohio House District 44 .
  • Ohio Senate District 11 , Assistant Minority Whip.