Since January 1979, Mr. Brown has been serving as a commissioner of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. He has been serving as president of the board of commissioners since November 1980. He was director of Cuyahoga County Board of Elections in 1972-1979. Prior to that, he was a city councilman, Ward 25, in 1967-72. Mr. Brown is married with two children that reside in Cleveland, Ohio. He was born August 12, 1917. His political career started in 1966 with an unsuccessful bid for a state representative position. However, in 1967 he won a seat on the Cleveland City Council, where he served for three terms.
In 1972, when there was a breakdown in the countywide election system and the position of director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections was now available, Mr. Brown resigned his city council seat to accept an appointment as director of the Board of Elections. He served nearly 7 years in this position and during his tenure, he restored the integrity and efficiency of the election process. When George Voinovich left the position of Cuyahoga County commissioner to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Ohio in 1979, Mr. Brown was appointed as the replacement. He was reelected and served three additional terms. While in his last term as commissioner, I was serving as Governor, and I asked Virgil if he would serve as the director of the Ohio State Lottery.
Mr. Brown graciously accepted, even though he was planning to retire. I appointed him in 1991, and he remained as director until 1995, when he officially retired at the age of 74.