Thelma Drake

Thelma Drake
Thelma Drake
Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration; Nominee
	Assuming office; TBD*
President	Donald Trump
Succeeding	Peter Rogoff
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives; from Virginia's 2nd district
	In office; January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2009
Preceded by	Ed Schrock
Succeeded by	Glenn Nye
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates; from the 87th district
	In office; January 10, 1996 – January 3, 2005
Preceded by	Howard Copeland
Succeeded by	Paula Miller
Personal details
Born	Thelma Day; November 20, 1949; Elyria, Ohio, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Ted Drake
Children	2
Education	Old Dominion University
	*Pending Senate confirmation

Thelma Day Drake (born November 20, 1949) is an American politician and former member of Congress for Virginia's 2nd Congressional District. A Republican, she represented Virginia's 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2005 to 2009. Prior to serving in Congress, Thelma Drake served nine years in the Virginia House of Delegates.

After leaving Congress, Drake was appointed to be Director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation by Governor Robert McDonnell, and later became Assistant Director of Public Works - Transportation Division for the City of Norfolk. She also worked as a real estate agent in the Hampton Roads region. On February 13, 2017, Drake was nominated by President Donald Trump as the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration. She is still awaiting confirmation by the U.S. Senate.[1]

Personal life

Thelma Drake was born Thelma Mary Day in Elyria, Ohio where she attended both Elyria Catholic High and Elyria High School. She later attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. She is married to Ted Drake and lives in the East Ocean View area of Norfolk.

Career in the House of Delegates

In 1995 Drake became the second Republican to be elected to represent the City of Norfolk in the Virginia General Assembly - House of Delegates since Reconstruction. She served in the House of Delegates for nine years representing the 87th District. Drake served as chairman of the Virginia Housing Commission and as a member of the Chesapeake Bay Commission.

Career in the U.S. Congress

Drake was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2004. She entered the race after incumbent Republican congressman Ed Schrock decided not to continue to seek re-election. Drake defeated Democratic Party candidate, David Ashe, 55%–45% in the general election, becoming the third woman to represent Virginia in Congress after Leslie Byrne and Jo Ann Davis.

In 2006, Drake defeated Democratic Party candidate, Phillip Kellam, 51% to 49%. Kellam, a Democratic officeholder in Virginia Beach, Virginia, currently serves as its Commissioner of Revenue.

In 2008, Drake was defeated by Democratic nominee Glenn Nye.

Federal Transit Administrator

On February 13, 2017 Drake was nominated by President Donald Trump as the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration. Drake is awaiting confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

References

"PN48 - Nomination of Thelma Drake for Department of Transportation, 116th Congress (2019-2020)". www.congress.gov. March 12, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Ed Schrock	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 2nd congressional district 2005–2009	Succeeded by Glenn Nye

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[1] "PN48 - Nomination of Thelma Drake for Department of Transportation, 116th Congress (2019-2020)". www.congress.gov. March 12, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.