Wilma Brown
District 1 (D)
wilma.brown@toledo.oh.gov
Committees Served:
Public Safety - Chair
Zoning & Planning - Vice Chair
Community & Neighborhood Development
Economic Development - Alternate
Finance & Budget
Health & Community Relations
Law and Criminal Justice - Alternate
Youth, Parks & Recreation
Wilma D. Brown was elected to Toledo City Council in 1997 and took office in January of 1998 as the District 1 Council Representative. She has been re-elected to represent the voters of District 1 twice since initially assuming her position on Council; the first of which was in 2003 and then again during the recent 2007 election. District 1 is considered Toledo’s largest, most diverse Council District and spans from the Willy’s Parkway area, across portions of the central city, to areas north of Airport Hwy and east of Reynolds Road.
Councilwoman Brown currently serves as the Chair of Toledo City Council’s Public Safety Committee and is a strong advocate of providing the necessary equipment and resources to the outstanding men and women of our Police and Fire Departments. “They are our first line of defense for Toledo’s citizens in cases of crime and disaster…they need the best tools we can afford”, according to the Councilwoman.
She is proud that Toledo is included with a limited, elite group of U.S. cities that have achieved national accreditation for both our Police and Fire Departments. She is a strong supporter of the Neighborhood Block Watch Program.
Committed to the revitalization of the Dorr Street Corridor and property maintenance, one of her top priorities has been an emphasis on cleaning up and beautifying the Dorr Street Business Corridor, one of Toledo’s main arteries leading into the downtown area. Ms. Brown has created an awards program to acknowledge businesses that have made special efforts to improve their properties, has preserved certain areas as “greenspace” along the corridor, and spearheaded the organization of the Secor Gardens Task Force (a joint-organization of the University of Toledo Foundation and residents of the neighboring Secor Gardens area designed to promote dialogue in regard to the development of new businesses on the South Side of Dorr Street).
The Councilwoman is also closely involved with the University of Toledo’s Technology Corridor planning and participates on their Land-Use Screening Committee.
Councilwoman Brown is also dedicated to keeping our Senior Citizens safe and informed. She created and hosts the “Senior Safety Summits”, a traveling series, comprised of panelists representing various non-profit agencies, organizations, and City & County Departments who go throughout the Toledo community to inform and enlighten our Seniors about safety tips and services designed specifically for them. In 2007, Ms. Brown was awarded the “Eleanor Kahle Award” by the Northwest Ohio Area Office on Aging for her dedication to the welfare of our Seniors!
Councilwoman Brown has served as a member of the Toledo Board of Education from 1985 to 1997, serving as President three terms and Vice President for five terms. She served as Chairman of the Board of the Council of Great City Schools in Washington D.C. Councilwoman Wilma Brown is the Precinct Committee Person for Ward 6 Precinct I, and in 1984, she served as the Sixth Ward Chair, and currently serves on the Democratic Executive Committee and the Democratic Central Committee. She is a member of the Perry Burroughs Democratic Women's Club and the West Toledo Democratic Club. Ms. Brown was also a charter-member of the Black Women's Democratic Caucus and was a Copeland Booster. She has also served on the Lucas County Emergency Planning Committee as well as TMACOG Ventures.
Councilwoman Brown has received many awards for her achievements to include The Community Service Award, Toledo Top 50 Black Leaders, Outstanding Achievement Award from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Outstanding Service Award from Ohio School Boards Association, All Ohio School Board Award, Special Recognition Award and Thanks Badge from Maumee Valley Girl Scout Council, Good Samaritan Award, three time award winner of the Certificate of Achievement from the Ohio House of Representatives, Outstanding Woman of Achievement, the Sojourner Truth Award, the 2005 YWCA Milestones Award and was also a recipient of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters HERO Award of 2005.
Councilwoman Wilma Brown attended Scott High School as well as Davis Business College and the University of Toledo. She is affiliated with the National Association of Negro Business & Professional Women's Clubs, Inc, Top Ladies of Distinction, and is a lifetime member of the NAACP and Girl Scouts of the USA.