Jim Hughes began his career in public service as a bailiff court constable in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. He moved on to become a prosecutor in the Columbus City Prosecutor's Office and later, an Assistant County Prosecutor for Franklin County. In 2000, he was selected to serve the remainder of a term in the Ohio House of Representatives and was re-elected to that post four times. In 2008, he was elected to the Ohio Senate to represent Ohio's 16th Senate District, which includes the western portion of Franklin County.

Hughes' service in the Ohio General Assembly has allowed him to put his legal experience to work for the benefit of all Ohioans, helping pass a number of crime initiatives to crack down on offenders and keep families safe. Hughes worked to keep schoolchildren safe by sponsoring legislation that requires community and chartered public schools to adopt school safety plans and conduct a safety drill on a yearly basis. He also sponsored the bill that increased the penalties for identity theft against seniors and disabled individuals and pushed for stronger laws to keep sex predators off the streets and away from children. His leadership on these and in other areas allowed him to rise through the ranks to serve as chairman of the Juvenile and Family Law Committee and the Higher Education Subcommittee. He also served as a member of both the Civil and Commercial Law and the Criminal Justice Committees while a member of the Ohio House of Representatives.

Now a State Senator, Hughes' leadership has earned him the post of Chairman of the newly-created Senate Financial Institutions Committee, which will examine issues related to the banking and finance industry. He was also named to the influential Finance Committee as well as the Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee for the 129th General Assembly.

Since joining the Ohio General Assembly, Senator Hughes has also played a critical role in efforts to revitalize the economy, make higher education more affordable, and to ensure state policies help, and not hinder, the ability of local communities to attract new jobs and economic investment. He was a strong supporter of tax reform, including a 21 percent state income tax cut for all Ohioans and of state investments in high-tech research and development through the Third Frontier Program, which has resulted in millions of dollars for Franklin County as it works to become a leader in high-tech fields like polymers, biotechnology and fuel cells.

Senator Hughes has been recognized by a variety of groups and organizations over the years for his legislative efforts on behalf of Ohioans. He has been named Legislator of the Year by the FOP Capitol City Lodge No. 9, the Ohio Fire Chief’s Association, the Ohio Nurses Association, the Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters and the AMVETS Department of Ohio. In addition, he has received the Ohio Association for Justice Workers Compensation Outstanding Service Award, the Ohio Federation of Teachers’ Friend of Education Award, the Dom Tiberi Service Award from the Agonis Club and the Watchdog of the Treasury Award, among others.

Senator Hughes continues to practice law as an attorney at Wiles, Boyle, Burkholder, and Bringardner. He earned his Juris Doctorate at Capital University School of Law after completing undergraduate degrees in business administration and transportation and logistics from The Ohio State University.

He and his wife Susan live in Clintonville with their daughter Kaela and are active in many local community organizations, including the Ascension Lutheran Church, where Hughes is a deacon, as well as the Agonis Club, Shamrock Club, Charity Newsies, Aladdin Shrine Temple, Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, Kids Voting, Impact Community Action, Dublin Kiwanis and numerous area Chambers of Commerce.

The Ohio Statehouse

Columbus, Ohio 43215

Phone: (614) 466-5981

SD16@senate.state.oh.us