The 24th District encompasses portions of Cuyahoga County and includes 27 communities, including Bay Village, Bentleyville, Berea, Brecksville, Broadview Heights, Chagrin Falls, Chagrin Falls Township, Fairview Park, Glenwillow, Hunting Valley, Independence, Lyndhurst, Mayfield Heights, Moreland Hills, North Olmsted, North Royalton, Oakwood, Olmsted Falls, Olmsted Township, Pepper Pike, Rocky River, Seven Hills, Solon, Valley View, Walton Hills, Westlake and Strongsville – Senator Patton’s hometown. Patton has served in the Senate since 2008.

For the 128th General Assembly, Patton was selected to lead the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee, which is responsible for the multi-billion state Transportation Budget that allocates funding for highway projects across the state. During difficult economic times, Patton knows that investing in the state’s infrastructure is a way to not only create jobs in the short run, but also to prepare for future economic growth. Job-creation and economic revitalization are Senator Patton’s highest priorities as an active member of the influential Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, the Energy and Public Utilities Committee and the Ways and Means and Economic Development Committee.

In addition to his standing committees, Senator Patton also serves as co-chair of the Ohio Senate Autism Caucus and as a member of the Ohio Turnpike Commission, the Ohio Athletic Commission, the MARCS Taskforce, the Ohio State Highway Patrol Mission Review Taskforce and the ODOT Transportation Futures Steering Committee.

In his effort to bring good jobs to the Cleveland-area, Senator Patton has worked to expand access to higher education, invest in high-tech research and development and keep taxes low. With Cleveland’s economy in mind, Senator Patton was a champion for enacting a film tax credit to ensure Northeast Ohio can be competitive with other states for attracting the $60 billion film industry and the jobs that come with it. Working with local officials, Patton was also the primary sponsor of the bill that authorized use of a “land bank” as a new tool to help Cuyahoga County contend with the foreclosure crisis and curb urban blight.

Over the years, Senator Patton has been recognized and honored by a diverse group of organizations and advocates. He was recently named an Honorary D.A.R.E. Officer by the D.A.R.E. Association of Ohio and has been recognized by the Autism Society of Ohio for his work to increase awareness of autism. Patton has also been named a ‘Watchdog of the Treasury’ multiple times for his commitment to fiscal responsibility. In addition, he has earned the Moms for Ohio Public Service Award, the FOP Distinguished Public Servant Award, the Ohio Public Images Award, the Ohio Alpaca Breeders Association Legislator Award, the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council Legislator of the Year for Protecting Consumer Choice Award and been named Legislator of the Year by the Ohio Professional Society of Engineers.

Patton is a member of St. Colman’s parish. He is active in the Knights of Columbus, the Cleveland Police Historical Society, the AFL-CIO and he serves as president of the Treasurers and Ticket Sellers Local 756.

A widower, he raised his own family of five daughters and one son in Strongsville and has been blessed with four grandchildren.