Jim Trakas

{{Short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Jim Trakas | image = | state_house = Ohio | state = Ohio | district = 17th | term_start = January 3, 1999 | term_end = December 31, 2006 | preceded = Mike Wise | succeeded = Josh Mandel | birth_date = {{birth date and age|May 5, 1965}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | education = Ohio State University (BA) | profession = | party = Republican | website = {{url|briscoecain.com|Campaign website}} | allegiance = {{flag|Ohio|24px}} | branch = Ohio Military Reserve | service_years = 2013-present | rank = 25px Major }}

'''James Peter Trakas'''<ref>{{Cite web|date=1996-11-01|title=Forty Under 40 - James P. Trakas|url=https://www.crainscleveland.com/awards/james-p-trakas-31|access-date=2021-03-06|website=Crain's Cleveland Business|language=en}}</ref> (born May 5, 1965) is an American politician who served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1999 to 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Former State Rep and current Ohio House Candidate Jim Trakas Visits Deacon's Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram|url=https://associationdatabase.com/aws/OADA/pt/sd/news_article/187558/_PARENT/layout_details/true|access-date=2021-03-06|website=associationdatabase.com}}</ref> He was the Republican nominee for the United States House of Representatives in Ohio's 10th congressional district in 2008.

== Education == Trakas earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio State University in social and behavioral sciences.

== Career == In 1991, Trakas was elected to the Independence City Council where he served two terms. In 1996 Trakas was elected chairman of The Republican Party of Cuyahoga County, serving until 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Reporter|first=ARLENE FINE Staff|title=Jim Trakas seeks fourth Ohio term|url=https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/archives/jim-trakas-seeks-fourth-ohio-term/article_ff696995-49ea-57bd-a69b-e9d0f5896d46.html|access-date=2021-03-06|website=Cleveland Jewish News|date=30 September 2004 |language=en}}</ref>

In 1998, Trakas was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives representing the 15th district, later renumbered the 17th district, where he served until 2007. As State Representative Trakas served two terms as House Majority Whip, and was a member of the Finance and Appropriations Committee. During Trakas' tenure, he authored 14 bills into law, including the Third Frontier Program.<ref>[http://www.cityclub.org/content/speakers/speakerDetail.aspx?spkID=5573 Speakers > Jim Trakas]{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }} The City Club of Cleveland. January 28, 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2008</ref> In 2002, Trakas was named "Best Politician" by ''Cleveland Scene'', an alternative newspaper.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Best Politician 2002|url=https://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/best-politician/BestOf?oid=1535531|access-date=2021-03-06|website=Cleveland Scene|language=en}}</ref>

Jim Trakas was the Republican nominee for the United States House of Representatives in Ohio's 10th congressional district, unsuccessfully challenging incumbent Democrat Dennis Kucinich. Trakas left office in 2006. In 2018, he was a candidate for the 6th district of the Ohio House of Representatives, losing narrowly to Democratic nominee Phil Robinson.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jim Trakas|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Jim_Trakas|access-date=2021-03-06|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}</ref>

He currently serves with the rank of major in the Ohio Military Reserve.<ref>https://www.gongwer-oh.com/directories/bio.cfm?nameid=15702</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.jimtrakas.org/ Jim Trakas' campaign site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404162651/http://www.jimtrakas.org/ |date=2008-04-04 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trakas, Jim}} Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:Politicians from Cleveland Category:Republican Party members of the Ohio House of Representatives Category:21st-century members of the Ohio General Assembly Category:People from Cuyahoga County, Ohio