When Carolyn Brakey was in elementary school during the Reagan era, she had many big dreams, including aspiring to become the first female president of the United States.
When Carolyn Brakey was in elementary school during the Reagan era, she had many big dreams, including aspiring to become the first female president of the United States.
“Beyond those commonplace dreams for a young girl, I never seriously considered getting involved in politics until a few years ago,” she said.
Her dream became reality Dec. 17, 2024, as Ohio State Rep. Sarah Fowler Arthur officially sworn Brakey in as Geauga County’s newest commissioner. She took the oath of office with her husband, Matt, and their twins by her side inside Berkshire High School’s gymnasium.
At age 42, it’s an honor to become the county’s 121st commissioner and youngest of four females in the county’s history to hold the role, she said.
The apple doesn’t seem to fall far from the tree when Brakey spoke about her passion for supporting communities, serving others and protecting the rights and interests of the public.
Her parents, Susan and Kevin Blake, both retired, served as role models, Brakey said, adding they both dedicated their careers to public service.
Her mother was an educator, holding various positions throughout the years and ultimately retiring as a Head Start director.
Her father worked for the National Resource Conservation Service as a soil conservationist, collaborating closely with farmers to advise on best practices.
The Earlier Days
Carolyn and her sister, Kristin, 40, grew up in an environment encouraging creativity and exploration.
“With only five television channels, our days were filled with outdoor adventures, caring for our many rescue pets, reading and inventing imaginative games—like pretending we were stranded on a deserted island,” she said.
Music was also a big part of her adolescence.
“I played the piano, guitar and alto saxophone, which brought me a lot of joy,” Brakey said.
At the turn of the millennium, she graduated from high school and headed to Grove City College to study mechanical engineering — it seemed like a practical choice.
“I loved math, particularly calculus, and wanted a degree that would open doors and keep me intellectually challenged,” Brakey said.
After graduation, she worked as a patent examiner for the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In that role, she frequently interacted with attorneys, all of whom had undergraduate degrees in science, technology, engineering and math fields.
This exposure compelled her to pursue a legal career, earning a juris doctor degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
After working for several area law firms, in 2020, she founded Brakey Law LLC., earning extensive experience representing plaintiffs in class action lawsuits involving electricity billing issues, Brakey said.
She also serves as general counsel to Brakey Energy, which she owns and operates with her husband, the company’s president.
The COVID Effect
“In 2020, when politics came for our families in the form of draconian COVID-
19 policies, I felt the urge to become more active politically,” Brakey said.
She wanted to know how decisions were being made and who was making them and began attending local political events and joined the Western Reserve Women’s Republican Club.
By early 2022, many Geauga County schools, including the one her twins attended,
still had mask mandates and quarantine procedures in place, she said.
Frustrated by policies she felt were contrary to science, health and liberty, she sought and secured an appointment on the Geauga County Board of Health in March 2022 and was unanimously elected president one year later.
“The role gave me an opportunity to advocate for common sense policies for families, individuals and businesses,” she said.
Matt Brakey said time and again, his wife shows real results come from the courage to do what’s right, even when it’s uncomfortable, and from prioritizing meaningful action over grandstanding.
Geauga Public Health Administrator Adam Litke said when working with Brakey, she quickly distinguished herself as an inquisitive and community-oriented person unafraid to ask tough questions, seek advice and listen to community concerns, while always striving for positive change.
“Her dedication to improving our community transcended personal interests and petty squabbles,” Litke said. “Mrs. Brakey has been an invaluable asset to the board of health. While the phrase ‘irreplaceable’ is often used lightly, it truly applies in her case. Her departure has been deeply felt.”
Brakey’s dedication reaches beyond her public service, her husband said.
“Whether cheering at our daughter’s basketball and volleyball games, supporting our son at his running races, managing the demands of a busy household, or excelling in her legal career, she brings the same determination and care to everything she does,” he said. “It’s this rare combination of strength, professionalism and heart that makes her the leader Geauga County needs.”
Multifaceted Roles
In addition to parenting her twins, Brakey loves cooking homemade meals and making most things from scratch.
She has developed routines keeping her disciplined and grounded, she said.
“On weekdays, I wake up before 5 a.m. and head to the gym for a workout or yoga class,” she said. “After that, it’s home to make breakfast, pack lunches, check homework and get the kids to school. By the time I’m out of the drop-off line, I’m often already making work calls and diving into the day. I joke that I live a lot of life before commissioners’ meetings start at 9:30 a.m. (Tuesdays).”
The family heads to Middlefield weekly to buy local meat, dairy, eggs and produce. “You can often find me walking out of Old Country Creamery with four gallons of milk under my arms,” she said, adding she recently started making homemade yogurt, which has become a family favorite.
Last summer, Brakey added a smoker to her kitchen arsenal and eagerly awaits warmer weather so she can start smoking meat again.
“What makes Geauga County so special is it has access to great amenities while remaining a high trust society,” she said. “I love being able to drop $4 in a cash box for eggs or produce and know my neighbors will do the same. It’s the best of America—the America I remember from my childhood — and it is a rarity worth preserving.”
As inauguration day approached for President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance’s, Brakey recalled past occasions she met and spoke at length with Vance.
The first time was when he was still in a crowded primary race for the U.S. Senate, she said, adding they were at an event seated next to each other and she asked Vance about his strategy for addressing his past criticism of Trump.
“I shared with him that, while President Trump has his faults — as all of us do — I frequently tell people that he is ‘the greatest president of my lifetime,’” she said. “Not long after, I noticed Mr. Vance adopting that very sentiment as one of his talking points, which I got a big kick out of.”
Christian Faith an Anchor
“Positivity is not my natural tendency as a person,” she said. “I wish it was. Politics can be deeply negative and it can be difficult not to absorb and redirect that. My faith in Christ helps me stay centered. I want to serve Geauga County to the best of my ability and bring glory to God.”
The kindness Brakey has received from the community means more to her than words can express, she said.
“From heartfelt notes of encouragement and lemonade brought to me at the
GOP tent at the Great Geauga County Fair, to emails filled with scripture and worship
songs — every gesture has deeply touched me,” she said. “Please know how much I appreciate each-and-every one. Without these moments, the negativity would at times feel overwhelming.”
Collaboration to address challenges is key to serving the community, Brakey said.
“Unfortunately, I’ve learned that in politics, simply showing kindness to someone viewed as an ‘enemy’ can be one of the biggest political transgressions — and some of my relationships have suffered because of it,” she said. “But that won’t deter me. I’m committed to bringing a new level of professionalism and collaboration to county government, one that prioritizes problem-solving over conflict. My hope is to make those divisive, unproductive behaviors the exception, not the norm. It’s already happening and it’s incredibly rewarding to see these changes beginning to
take root.”
While Brakey feels the weight of her commissioner’s role, she embraces it, working toward goals of increasing transparency in county government, which has already begun with the live-streaming for commissioners meetings.
She is also focusing on fostering stronger relationships between commissioners and other elected officials, departments, organizations and residents.
“I’m not aligned with any faction in Geauga politics. My only allegiance is to doing what’s best for our residents,” she said.
As she settles into her new position, Brakey extends a message of encouragement to other individuals, especially youth wanting to pursue a dream.
“First, root yourself in faith and family,” she said. “They’ll give you the strength and clarity to pursue your goals. Then, hone and trust your own reason and judgment. If you outsource these faculties, you’ll never stand a chance.”
When she decided to run for commissioner, most people outside her family didn’t take her seriously, Brakey recalled.
“Like crabs in a bucket, they tried to pull me down,” she said. “But, through hard work and relentless execution, what others dismissed as impossible became inevitable. The critics who say you’re not capable are proven right the moment you believe them.”
