BIOGRAPHY
In 1985, Brooks was recruited as Chief Legal and Legislative Counsel for the Ohio Department of Liquor Control where she advised on liquor enforcement and regulatory issues throughout the state.
Governor Celeste than asked Brooks to become the Assistant Director of the State�s largest department, the Department of Administration Services, where she managed a $3 billion dollar budget, was responsible for the State�s Human Resources system, EEO compliance, and all building construction for state buildings throughout Ohio including construction on State funded college campuses.
Paula was honored in 2000 to be appointed to the federal Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS) by President Clinton and Secretary of Defense William Cohen. With 3-Star status, her civilian advisory duties to the Secretary of Defense entailed troop readiness and policy advice. Many diverse members, such as United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O�Connor, have served on the DACOWITS.
In private law practice since 1990, Brooks has represented clients in healthcare, employment matters, and was Special Counsel to the FDIC and the Ohio Attorney General.
Brooks has also actively served the community through numerous boards in which she has served in a leadership capacity, including Franklin County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, WOSU Friends, the Columbus Urban League and she is currently a Trustee and Grants Committee Chair for the Ohio State Bar Foundation.
Brooks is proud of her involvement, beginning in the early 1980�s, in economic development and continuing through present times as Vice-President of Upper Arlington�s economic development arm, the Community Improvement Corporation.
Brooks served on Upper Arlington City Council from 1996 to 2004 and as its Vice Mayor from 1998 to 2002. In this role, she worked to forge strong collaborations with the private sector, schools, and City staff. She chaired City Council�s ad hoc Committee for Review of Youth Programs and budget, leading efforts to revamp youth programs to the UA Youth and Family Council. As chair of the Employee Compensation Review Task Group, she was instrumental in bringing about a revised fair and equitable compensation and classification system for bargaining unit exempt employees.
Paula lives in Upper Arlington with her husband, Greg Kontras, where they raise their two children, Elise, 19 and Evan, 15.
