About Thelma Drake
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Thelma Drake was born in Elyria, Ohio. She is married to Ted Drake with two grown children and has four grandchildren. She worked tirelessly as a young mother raising her children in the City of Norfolk to make a better way of life for them and her community.
Thelma became involved in the community when her children were very young and started a neighborhood watch program in her neighborhood for which she received the Virginia Crime Prevention Association's Citizen of the Year Award. She also rallied for children to attend neighborhood schools. Thelma is a former President of Granby High School PTA. This PTA played a key role in the renovation of Granby High School. She felt the condition of the school was just unacceptable for our children.
Thelma lived and raised her children in Ocean View where she was the former secretary of the Ocean View Coordinating Committee. She was very active in her Civic League and Lee's Friends giving countless hours of her time and companionship to cancer patients and their families.
Thelma had a career in Real Estate for more than 20 years; she was consistently ranked among the Top Realtors in Hampton Roads. She is both a graduate of the Real Estate Institute and a Certified Real Estate Specialist. She greatly enjoyed helping people find the American Dream of home ownership. In 1997 Thelma was given the Outstanding Professional Women of Hampton Roads Award and recognized as a successful small business owner.
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Thelma has been a life long Republican and she has consistently volunteered and worked hard for the local candidates. She was elected to the Virginia General Assembly House of Delegates in 1995. Thelma was the first Republican woman elected from Norfolk and only the second Republican elected to the House of Delegates from Norfolk and the only Republican to be re-elected since the Civil War. She worked tirelessly as our Delegate in the 87th House District of Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Thelma was Chairman of the Virginia Housing Study Commission and always worked hard to protect private property rights. She served on the Chesapeake Bay Commission, Governor Gilmore's Transportation Commission and The Third Crossing Commission as well as several other boards and commissions.
Thelma was first elected to Congress in 2004. In 2006 MoveOn.org and the DCCC spent over 1.7 million dollars attacking her in a nationally followed race. However, through her positive message of a strong military, improving economy and a secure nation Thelma was able to win re-election. Currently, Thelma serves on the House Armed Services and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.
Over the years, Thelma has been a successful advocate for her community because of her hard work, dedication and commitment to helping others. Thelma Drake is a true servant leader.