Thelma Drake | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 2nd district |
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In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2009 |
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Preceded by | Ed Schrock |
Succeeded by | Glenn Nye |
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 87th district |
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In office January 10, 1996 – January 3, 2005 |
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Preceded by | Howard Copeland |
Succeeded by | Paula Miller |
Personal details | |
Born |
Elyria, Ohio |
November 20, 1949
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Ted Drake |
Residence | East Ocean View, Norfolk, Virginia |
Occupation | Real estate agent |
Religion | United Church of Christ |
Thelma D. Drake (born November 20, 1949) is an American politician and former member of Congress of the Republican party from the state of Virginia. She was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in November 2004 to represent Virginia's 2nd congressional district. She was defeated by Democrat Glenn Nye in 2008.
Thelma Drake was born in Elyria, Ohio. She grew up in Ohio and attended Elyria High School. She later attended Old Dominion University, but did not graduate. She worked as a real estate agent in Norfolk, Virginia.
Drake is married and has two adult children. She and her husband reside in Norfolk. She was the director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transit under the McDonnell administration.
In 1995 Drake became the second Republican to be elected from the Norfolk area to the Virginia 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.
In 2004, Drake was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives of the 109th United States Congress. She entered the race after incumbent Republican congressman Ed Schrock dropped out on August 30, 2004. Drake defeated Democrat David Ashe 55%-45% in the general election, becoming the third woman to represent Virginia in Congress after Leslie Byrne and Jo Ann Davis.