O'Hara is an investor from Overland Park,[1] and was previously a general contractor and real-estate developer in the Kansas City metropolitan area and Johnson County, Kansas.
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, O'Hara served on these House committees:[2] O'Hara put herself forward as a candidate for the Republican nomination in Kansas' 3rd U.S. House district in early 2010, but dropped out of the race before the primary election.
[citation needed] O'Hara was elected by Republican precinct delegates to fill a vacancy in the State House of Representatives early in 2011.
House District 27 Rep. Ray Merrick was elected by Republican precinct committee members to fill the remainder of Colyer's Senate District 37 term; then O'Hara was elected to fill Merrick's House seat.
After redistricting for the 2012 elections, O'Hara filed for the Kansas Senate District 37 seat being vacated by Ray Merrick.