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It seems like yesterday, that a young ONN assignment editor called me at home one night to ask if I thought taking the job of Communication Director of the Ohio Democratic Party under then Chair David Leland was a good move.
Mike Brown even then was one of those people in media that was solidly grounded. I told him it was a good move and that I hoped he’d pursue the job. He did, got the job and in 1999 moved on to the Coleman campaign for Mayor.
Now comes news that Brown will be stepping down on June 2 as Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman’s Communication Director to take on a role developing “new urbanism” in Columbus. Both the Mayor, beaming at yesterday’s OLBC luncheon like a proud father, and Mike filled us in yesterday.
Many people don’t realize that being at the hub of City communications is probably one of the most taxing positions in government. If all government is local, a city press office is a meat grinder with everything from police issues, to utility breaks, to personnel issues constantly filling your blackberry (or pager back when Mike started.)
To fill the post as Mike did for over 8 years is an uber accomplishment. As for his replacement, Dan Williamson of Other Paper fame will take the walk to the “dark” side as journalists often refer to it and fill Brown’s role.
For that, I thanked the Mayor yesterday profusely. Dan is and always has been one of the toughest interviews in Ohio and you were never quite sure what his articles would say until the paper hit the stands.
Congratulations to them both.
And as for Mike, he’ll finally be able to turn that blackberry on silent. That will be both the hardest adjustment and most relieving adjustment of all.
