The pandemic has exposed deficiencies in the nation’s infrastructure, healthcare system, housing, economy and more—deficiencies that put into sharp focus the importance of local governments in maintaining a good quality of life for residents.

Despite the added pressures and problems, the three mayors who sit on ֹ’s Board of Trustees have chosen to lean in. They face challenges, to be sure, but they also see opportunities for their cities and the university to help people adjust and thrive in the post-pandemic world.

We asked those mayors—Don Mason, mayor of Zanesville; Pamela Bobst, mayor of Rocky River; and Ann Womer Benjamin, mayor of Aurora—to tell us about their hopes for the future of their cities, their community’s relationship to higher education and their involvement as trustees. Here are some highlights.

Don Mason

Don Mason, JD

Mayor of Zanesville
Board of Trustees member through May 2029

Transitioning to a new economy: Muskingum County is primarily a blue-collar region. In the past, we’ve had significant employment in natural resources, timber, oil and gas, coal and mining, but we are transitioning into a new economy, in which more people are working from home.

I don’t think a person necessarily has to live in a suburb of Columbus to work for a Columbus-based company. I would like to pull those people further east—to work from home in Zanesville. But to do that, we’ve got to have more housing. I’m focusing on trying to get new housing built at all levels—whether that’s rental properties, subsidized properties, first family homes or retirement homes.

Dealing with the educational divide: We’re still working on a lot of what I’ll call “social-economic issues” that affect the city. Some people are able to get an education