John O'Grady was elected to the Franklin County Board of Commissioners in November 2008, and took office in January of 2009.  He was elected Board President by his peers in January of 2010.  John had previously served two four-year terms as the Franklin County Clerk of Courts.

As Commissioner, John has been a strong advocate for economic development.  During his tenure, the Board of Commissioners has supported several important projects such as the construction of the Hilton Convention Center Hotel, Grange Audubon Center, Columbus Commons, Central Park of Gahanna, Scioto Mile, and the Columbus Rickenbacker Multimodal Yard.

John also led efforts to create the Somali Work Group, an ongoing collaboration between numerous county agencies, courts, and community partners from within Franklin County.  This organization meets regularly to discuss the needs of immigrant communities within central Ohio and how government agencies can respond more effectively.

Commissioner O’Grady has also served on several Franklin County boards and commissions: The Emergency Management & Homeland Security Executive Committee, Automatic Data Processing Board, Criminal Justice Planning Board/Community Corrections Board, and Investment Advisory Board.

John is also heavily involved in the fields of health, education, and domestic relations.  He served for six years on the Board of Trustees of the Epilepsy Foundation of Central Ohio, and currently serves on the Institutional Biological and Chemical Safety Committee at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.  John is the founder of the Hearts Over Clubs Charity Fund, a non-profit organization that benefits the families of heart disease victims. He is an honorary board member of Kid’s Voting, Central Ohio, and an active sponsor of programs that promote hands-on educational experiences for young people.  John has also been supportive of the Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence and their efforts to stem the incidences of domestic violence.

During his tenure as Clerk, John was active in the Ohio Clerk of Courts Association (OCCA).  In 2007, he served as the 3rd Vice President of the Association, and chair of the Legislative Committee.  Additionally, he was a member of the OCCA’s Dealer Relations, Program, Court Technology and Certification committees, as well as serving as co-chair of the Education committee for several years.

John is the youngest of 12 children of former Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Pete O’Grady.  He is married to Pamela Hykes O’Grady, who is the Director of Legislative and Community Affairs for Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman. They have four children: Elizabeth, Jack, Patrick and Erin.  He is a lifelong member of the Catholic Church, and serves as a lector at his parish.

Commissioner O'Grady's Contact Information:
Sharon Keels,
Aide to Commissioner O'Grady
614.462.5589
skkeels@franklincountyohio.gov