Senator Charleta B. Tavares was elected to serve Ohio’s 15th Senate District in 2010. She also serves as Senate Assistant Minority Leader.

She currently serves as Executive Director of Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competence (MACC), a statewide non-profit membership organization whose mission is to enhance the quality of care in Ohio's behavioral healthcare system and to incorporate cultural competence into systems and organizations that provide care to Ohio's vulnerable and at risk populations.

Prior to joining the Columbus City Council, Tavares served as the State Representative in the 22nd House District. Tavares was the first African-American female to serve in the state legislature from Franklin County and the first African-American woman ever to hold a leadership position in the Ohio General Assembly. She has also served as the Chief of the Children's Protection Section in the Ohio Attorney General's Office, Associate Director of the Public Children Services Association of Ohio and as a Legislative Assistant and chief staff person to the Human Resources Subcommittee of the Ohio House Finance- Appropriations Committee.

She received her degrees from Spelman College and Ohio State University.