This is a Moms Clean Air Force exclusive interview with Marilyn Brown Franklin County, Ohio County Commissioner:
What is unique about protecting your state’s resources?
Franklin County’s nearly 1.3 million residents depend upon clean air, clean water, and a livable environment to thrive. Truly, our natural resources and environmental quality is essential to a healthy and prosperous region. Central Ohio drives Ohio’s growth, accounting for nearly all population gains in recent years and is also the state’s economic engine. Our continued progress, as a county and beyond, depends upon a sustainable future for our residents and our businesses.
As a parent are you concerned about the effects of climate change on your children and the children of your state?
As county commissioner, parent of two daughters and grandparent of three grandsons, I am very concerned about the air our children and our parents breathe. Every child deserves a future climate that supports a healthy lifestyle and stable communities, including my grandsons.
Our families deserve to focus on their future, not their frailty. Bad air quality diminishes quality of life for those residents who suffer asthma, heart and lung diseases and more. Furthermore, healthy kids mean healthy communities. When children get sick from environmental causes, family members must miss work to care for them and the entire community is impacted.
Why is a bipartisan effort so important, and how can efforts to address clean air and climate change be achieved in our current political climate?
Clean air and climate change do not know physical boundaries. They are health issues and economic issues, and should not be handled as partisan issues. Severe storms, floods and droughts, and ozone and particle pollution days do not target with regard to political affiliation. Though the Federal EPA has rolled back many regulations that keep us on track for cleaner air in our region, I am always optimistic we can come together for the sake of protecting our environment.
Is there anything you’d like to share with Moms Clean Air Force’s one million members?
Prior to running for elected office, while working at Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), I led the team that developed the first in the state ozone pollution forecasting and communications program with protocols still in place at MORPC today. When people work together, we can make lasting accomplishments to protect and improve our communities for generations to come.
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Marilyn Brown has been elected as County Commissioner in 2006, 2010, and 2014. Prior to elected office, Marilyn had compiled extensive experience in public service in two major areas – economic development and social justice. She and her husband, former Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court Eric Brown, have two daughters and three grandchildren.