About Steve

Press Release

Steve Driehaus was elected State Representative in November 2000, and is now serving his fourth term. Since 2005, Representative Driehaus has served in leadership as the Minority Whip of the Ohio House. Steve represents the people of the 31st House District, which includes western Cincinnati, Addyston, Cheviot, Cleves, and North Bend.

In the legislature, Representative Driehaus has focused on the issues of community development, housing, tax reform and election fairness in the state of Ohio. His committee assignments include: Finance and Appropriations, Public Utilities, State Government and Elections, and Insurance. In addition, Rep. Driehaus serves on the Governor's Foreclosure Prevention Task Force, the Ohio Power Siting Board and the Clean Ohio Council. Representative Driehaus was named legislative "Rookie of the Year" by the Cincinnati Enquirer during his first term, and was named "Legislator of the Year" by both the Ohio Association of Elections Officials and the ARC of Ohio in 2007. Steve was also selected as one of the Cincinnati Business Courier's "Forty Under Forty" in 2003. Steve co-founded Price Hill Will and served on the Board of Seton High School and the Ohio River Way.

Representative Driehaus was first elected in 2000 by a margin of 13% in what was, at the time, a 58% Republican district. He has subsequently received 67-70% of the vote in the past three election cycles, appealing to many cross-over voters.

Steve formerly directed and now serves as a Senior Associate to the Community Building Institute (CBI), in Cincinnati, Ohio. CBI is a collaborative effort of Xavier University and United Way & Community Chest that promotes citizen-led, asset-based community development. In his position, Steve works with community leaders helping them to identify and mobilize strengths in their neighborhoods. He is actively involved in supporting community economic development initiatives, facilitating neighborhood planning processes and working with grassroots leaders.

Prior to his work with CBI, Steve was Associate Director of the Center for International Education and Development Assistance at Indiana University. At Indiana, he coordinated several programs, including the highly acclaimed South African Internship Program sponsored by the United States Information Agency. The South African program continues to be the largest professional exchange program between the United States and the "New" South Africa.

From 1988-1990, Steve served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal, West Africa. As a natural resource volunteer, he worked with village groups and local schools to promote sustainable environmental practices.

Steve is a 1984 graduate of Elder High School in Cincinnati. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Political Science from Miami University and a Masters degree in Public Affairs (MPA) with concentrations in Public Finance and Comparative International Affairs from Indiana University.

Steve, his wife, Lucienne, and their three children live in Cincinnati.

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