Tavares has an extensive public service career starting as the Legislative Assistant to Ray Miller in the Ohio House of Representatives.

She also served as Chief of the Children's Protection Section for Ohio Attorney General Lee Fisher prior to her appointment in 1993, as state Representative and the first African-American and Democratic woman to serve in the Legislature from Franklin County in the state's history.

She was elected by her colleagues in 1996 to serve as Minority Whip, making her the first African-American woman ever to hold a leadership position in the Ohio Legislature.

As a result, Tavares, Representative Dan Stewart, and politician novice Oyango Snell ran to replace him.

[3] Tavares's legislative agenda includes providing benefits and protections for domestic workers, eliminating health disparities, eliminating disparities caused by school expulsions and suspensions, investing in Ohio's infrastructure, and creating equity and racial fairness in the judicial system.