I am Donna Rehman. My husband Paul and I have lived in Brunswick since 1982. We have a 16-year-old son, Tom, who is a junior at Brunswick HS and is interested in science, orchestra, and wrestling. He and Paul are also very active in the Civil Air Patrol.

Paul holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and has been employed by Fairview Hospital for nearly 20 years. He is currently clinical manager of the sterile processing department. Paul has also been an active member of the Brunswick Fire Department since 1978; he is currently their only part-time Lieutenant.

I earned my BA in psychology from Kent State University, and prior to (and briefly after) Tom’s birth worked full time as a social worker, doing casework in Foster Care and Child Abuse/Neglect Investigation. Both positions involved being on 24-hour emergency call. Since deciding to be a mom who could be home more, I have been involved in church work and the Renewal program, part-time bus driving, several years as church organist/ keyboard player, and volunteering in various roles at Tom’s schools. Teaching Sunday school and reviving my piano skills eventually led me to teach piano lessons in our home, which I currently do three to four afternoons a week. My hobbies include quilting (especially collecting pretty fabric!), ceramics, sewing, and bowling. As a family we enjoy camping and hiking, especially on our annual vacation in Canada. We dote upon our three pampered dogs, two exceptional mixed breeds and, since May ’01, a rescued Husky who has nearly learned to behave herself. We also enjoy a close relationship to Paul’s parents who live here in Brunswick, and my immediate family in the Akron area.

My decision to become more involved in our city’s government and with Citizens for a Better Brunswick is a direct result of what I term my ‘wake up call’ on September 11, 2001. Facing the reality of a terrorist strike upon the USA has led many of us to re-evaluate priorities. Among other things, it caused me to begin voicing my opinions and questioning aspects of how Brunswick is being run…things I have often wondered about over the years, but thought I was too busy to research and understand. Yes, I originally went to a council meeting because I was upset at the way Mr. Trimble handled the firefighter’s request to do ‘boot brigade’ fund raising for the New York firefighters…but left that meeting with questions and misgivings about other items on that night’s agenda. I have been heartened to see how many busy citizens have come forward, on all sides of the various issues. I look forward to growth and improvement for all of us as we express our opinions and give our City Council more input with which to govern.