Biography
State Representative Mark Okey (D- Carrollton) of the 61st District is proud to carry on a family tradition of public service. Rep. Okey is serving his second term on behalf of the voters in Carroll County and parts of Mahoning, Stark and Tuscarawas Counties.
Rep. Okey was born in Charleston, West Virginia, but his family soon moved to Canton, Ohio. Okey graduated from Glenwood High School, then from Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in history. His interest in law motivated him to earn his law degree from Ohio Northern University in 1976.
Rep. Okey joined his father in the practice of law that year. They later founded The Okey Law Firm, LPA, a family practice that quickly earned a local, state and national reputation for excellence. Rep. Okey has successfully handled hundreds of cases in Carroll, Mahoning, Stark and Tuscarawas Counties over the last three decades. He has gained the respect of his peers who honored him with the highest rating available. This rating designates an attorney who demonstrates excellence in legal ability and who processes the highest level of integrity and honesty.
His Revolutionary War grandfather, Levin Okey, moved his family to Ohio in 1800. They settled in what is now Monroe County. The Okeys established a tradition of public service that has transcended generations. The family tree boasts judges, justices of the peace, county recorder, county auditor, clerk of courts, school examiner, a Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court and members of the Ohio House of Representatives. Rep. Okey is proud to continue his family’s commitment to Ohio and public service.
Rep. Okey is an avid outdoorsman who loves to hunt and fish. He supports the rights of gun owners and pledges to use his standing at the Statehouse to protect our natural resources and wildlife.
Rep. Okey is Chairman of the Civil and Commercial Law Committee, and Vice Chairman of the Elections and Ethics Committee. He is also a member of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the Judiciary Committee and the Public Utilities Committee.
In addition to his legislative and legal responsibilities, Rep. Okey also resides on his family farm, which produces soybeans and corn. He is married and he and his wife Kathy have three children (Krista, Laura and Mark) and two grandchildren (Nathan and Addison).
Education
B.A., Kent State University; J.D., Ohio Northern University
Memberships/Affiliations
Sons of the American Revolution, John Stark Chapter; First Families of Monroe County, Ohio; National Wild Turkey Federation; Carroll County Chamber of Commerce; Life Member, Carroll County Historical Society; Carroll County Farm Bureau
Responsibilities
A State Representative is an elected official whose job is to serve as a direct link between those Ohioans he or she was elected to represent and state government. In order to best fulfill this role, a representative responds to constituent concerns and works to provide solutions through legislative action. In order to best serve their constituents, a state representative attends meetings of their local civic, social and business groups in addition to responding to mail, email and telephone correspondence from constituents in their district.
