LADIES' GALLERY

Margaret Mahoney began her political career in the Ohio General Assembly, serving in both chambers. She was the first Democratic woman elected to the Ohio Senate. She was also the first woman chair of the Senate Rules Committee and the first woman majority leader – President Pro Tem of the Senate.

She began her professional career while working as a salesperson in a Cleveland department store, then she became a business secretary, working her way through law school at John Marshall. During her legislative career she focused on education, health, welfare, and industrial and community programs.

Her career as a legislator was filled with praise for her efforts on behalf of her constituents. During her last twelve years of service in the Ohio General Assembly she was elected to an "All Star" team, which was chosen by newspaper correspondents who followed the legislature. She was also honored in her last term by being one of three senators receiving a top performance rating of every newspaper reporter. Mahoney was selected by Governor Frank Lausche to be the State Securities Chief in 1951. She was the first woman to hold this position. She was also the first to be appointed director of the State Department of Industrial Relations in 1953.

Biography courtesy of the Ohio Women's Policy and Research Commission