Before winning election to the state House of Representatives, Frey was appointed chairman of the Connecticut Real Estate Commission in 1995 by former Governor John G. Rowland.

Frey was also appointed 'government representative' for the University of Connecticut Business School Center for Real Estate and Economic Studies, a position he still holds.

Frey was the 5th District coordinator for the Bob Dole 1996 presidential campaign and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in San Diego, California, where he represented the state as a member of the Platform Committee.

In 2004, for the third time he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention and again represented Connecticut on the Platform Committee, where he gained approval for language calling for a more transparent Indian tribe recognition process.

Frey has supported measures to improve education for students at all grade levels, protect the benefits of seniors and veterans residing in Connecticut, preserve consumers' rights, reform state government, and secure pristine open space areas.

[5]In June 2020, The White House announced that State Representative John H. Frey of Ridgefield was appointed by President Donald Trump to serve on the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP).