Biography
State Representative Raymond Pryor (D-Chillicothe) proudly serves the 85th House District in his first term in the Ohio House. Ohio’s 85th district encompasses parts of Pickaway, Ross and Fayette Counties.
The Ross County native is a graduate of Ohio University - Chillicothe, majoring in Business Management Technology. He served six years in the U.S. Navy, and he never forgot his comrades in arms when he returned to Ohio. Rep. Pryor worked for the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services for 25 years as a Veteran’s Representative and Veterans Licensing Coordinator. During his tenure, he helped develop a state licensing and certification program for Ohio veterans hailed as a national model.
The former OCSEA Union President (Ross #7100) has worked hard to improve opportunity and attain energy independence in his community. He helped establish the Southern Ohio Biomass Task Force, a group dedicated to promoting a biomass fuel initiative in southern and south central Ohio. The goal is to reduce dependence on oil and gas while helping schools and other facilities save on utility costs.
Rep. Pryor was also appointed as a voting member of the Area 20 Workforce Investment Board, which oversees the administration and program functions for employment and training dollars coming from federal and state government into Fairfield, Pickaway and Ross Counties.
With a keen understanding of veterans’ issues, Rep. Pryor will put them among his priorities as a legislator. He also hopes to work on a variety of legislative initiatives: the righting of Ohio’s education funding; improving the state’s healthcare system; moving Ohio forward in capitalizing on renewable energy resources; and ensuring the wellbeing and quality of life of Ohio’s seniors.
Rep. Pryor is the Vice Chair of the Veterans Affairs committee. He also serves as member of the Public Utilities; Agriculture and Natural Resources; Education; and Economic Development committees.
Rep. Pryor, who is also a certified substitute teacher and an apprentice auctioneer, married his high school sweetheart Jennifer, a reading and math intervention teacher. They have two children – both teachers – and four grandchildren.
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.
