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About Marylin

     Marilyn Brown has thirty years of public service leadership in Columbus and Greater Cleveland. She has worked to expand women's access to college, fought for fair housing access and provided diversity training in schools and businesses. Marilyn led a growing chamber of commerce, and led public policy efforts for the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.

     In 2006, Marilyn Brown defeated a three-term incumbent, and as a new Franklin County Commissioner, Marilyn made her leadership mark in elective office. In 2007, the county began construction of two major projects that Marilyn oversaw; a new ballpark and new courthouse. The ballpark, opened in spring of 09, was finished on time and under budget. It has received numerous awards, including “Best new ballpark in the country.” The LEED certified Gold courthouse is on schedule and on budget. A new Animal Care and Adoption Center broke ground at Northland Center in summer of '09.

     Marilyn pledged in her 2006 campaign to help agencies work better together. She is proud of the accomplishment of this goal and the on-going work to continually make governmental departments and agencies more accountable and accessible to residents.

     While every city, region and state is experiencing severe economic downturns, Franklin County remains the only county in Ohio to be fiscally sound. Our double AAA bond rating is additional evidence of the sound financial health Franklin County maintains. Marilyn is proud that her leadership of the Commission in 2008 helped create a system of checks and balances, to provide for services to residents while being fiscally responsible to taxpayers. In 2009, Franklin County managed a $1.2 million dollar budget and millions more in federal stimulus funds that put people to work and kept our community safe and our social service safety-net intact.

     As President in 2008, Marilyn led the Commission's work to fund extensive early voter education, expand voting opportunities by moving early voting from the Board of Elections to a larger site more centrally located. Marilyn worked with county elections officials in the same way she works with others, by listening and leading with respect.

     Marilyn is an officer on the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission board, chairing several committees to increase membership and improve operations; serves on the Franklin County Family and Children First Council; and the Emergency Management Agency.

     Marilyn holds a masters' degree in organizational development from Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. Her undergraduate work was in public relations and psychology at Cleveland State University.

     Marilyn and her husband, Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Brown, have two daughters, Beryl and her husband Andrew, and Daryn. The Browns have three grandsons, Vincent, Max and Alex.