COLUMBUS – The daughter of U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown will be on the ballot in Columbus this November, replacing that of Michelle Mills, who announced Monday that she is leaving Columbus City Council at the same time as an FBI investigation, allegations of bribery and reports of a trip with a lobbyist to an Ohio State University football game continue to shake the council.
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Mills, the Council’s president pro tem, announced her withdrawal from the November ballot just after 11:00 a.m. on Monday and submitted her letter of resignation from the council an hour later.
“I remain committed to Columbus and will continue work to strengthen families and neighborhoods through my service at St. Stephen’s Community House. I love this city, its people and how we work together to improve our community,” she said in a statement.
Just a few hours later, Mills’ five-person nominating committee, which includes Franklin County Commissioner Marilyn Brown and county Treasurer Edward Leonard, chose Elizabeth Brown, 31, to replace Mills on the ballot.
“Elizabeth is a great public servant and a good Democrat. She will serve the community well, and I am proud to support her,” Mayor Michael Coleman said.
“Columbus is a vibrant and growing city with a tremendous future ahead, but we have real work to do to break down the barriers of poverty and build up working- and middle-class families. If elected, I will use my experience in job creation, nonprofit service, and grassroots organizing to fight for broad-based economic prosperity that works for every neighborhood, every small business, and every citizen in this wonderful community,” said Brown, who has served as the manager of Downtown Economic Development since February 2014.
Columbus City Council members will appoint someone to serve until Mills’ term expires at the end of December. Mills’ resignation is effective Sept. 4. Elizabeth Brown could be appointed to fill the term.
“While a difficult decision, I understand that professionally and personally this is what is best for Michelle, and I respect her decision,” Council president Andrew Ginther wrote in a statement released later in the day.
In her resignation letter, Mills did not mention the scandals that have shaken City Hall.
Mills’ decision comes as The Dispatch published stories detailing a trip that four City Council members — Mills, Council President Andrew J. Ginther, Shannon Hardin and Eileen Y. Paley — took in December to the Big Ten Championship football game with lobbyist John Raphael.