Marilyn Brown is a proven leader and we are proud to endorse her for County Commissioner in Franklin County. She has done so much for her community and we know she will continue to work hard to create an economy in which women and their families can thrive and prosper.

Franklin County Commissioner Marilyn Brown On The Importance Of Matriots Money

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Meet the Candidate

Can you tell our members a little bit about your journey to filing as a candidate?

At the end of 2005, I was asked to consider running against a longtime incumbent. I was working at an organization I loved and doing good work, so this wasn’t something I had given any thought to. During this time, I did lots of research on the role of County Commissioner, what I would need to do to win, and I talked with family and friends. My oldest grandson, who was two at the time, was my biggest motivation in running to win elected office. I wanted to make sure he knew that his “grandma” would always take a risk when it was important.

Tell our members about a friend or family member who inspired you to become a leader.

My two daughters and my husband of 45 years have inspired me in so many ways to become a leader in my personal and professional life. I am blessed to have their support, encouragement and inspiration on a daily basis.

Some of you are military veterans, some small business owners, some professionals, some mothers and grandmothers, some homemakers. How did one of these experiences shape who you are as a person and leader?

Most of my career has been focused on improving the lives of people at different stages of their lives. I helped women re-entering college, after raising their families, get needed support and education. I led efforts to break down segregated housing patterns throughout Greater Cleveland. I taught diversity classes in Cleveland for business and religious leaders. I also worked to provide transportation for families to get to jobs and other services. Regardless of the role, my focus has always been to do what I could to make a difference in people’s lives.

The Matriots PAC has a goal to see 50% of all elected offices in Ohio held by women by 2028. What is your vision for Ohio in 2028?

I see a healthier and more prosperous state led by smart women and a few good men. When women lead, communities do better. I think we need to work together to ensure that issues are dealt with in a constructive and positive way. I believe that we need to have more smart women in leadership positions in our community.

Tip O’Neill famously said that “all politics is local.” What are the top-two issues your community or our state face today?

The top issue we face in Franklin County is the growing income inequality. There is a shrinking middle class and people are not able to afford “affordable housing.” While we are working hard to address the many complex issues related to this issue, there is still a great deal to be done.

Another significant issue that we continue to see is too many people suffering from addiction to opioid drugs and/or alcohol. We must continue to explore innovative programs to help those who are suffering and continue to cultivate the number of professionals who wish to enter into the field of drug and alcohol counseling.

Tell us something personal about yourself.

Guess who my husband and I met on our honeymoon – Elvis! The real one performing in concert at a hotel in Vegas. Of course, this was toward the end of his career, yet a wonderful show for all of us!