I was the Communications Director for Dennis Kucinich’s first successful campaign for the United States House of Representatives in 1996, and subsequently worked for the Congressman on Capitol Hill. I handled all things urban for the Congressman, including transportation, the environment and development that fell within the Congressional district, from the expansion of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to advocating for bike trails.
A major initiative of his first term in Congress was working with EPA Administrator Carol Browner to adopt tougher clean air standards. As the legislative aide handling environmental issues, I coordinated with environmental groups and the EPA to persuade members of Congress to support the EPA’s authority to enforce the new rules under the Clean Air Act. This was a high-profile position for a representative from Ohio (as a state with many coal-burning power plants), requiring significant preparation for speeches and media appearances on this issue. At the time, the new rules were the top priority for environmental groups, which were successfully adopted by the EPA in 1997 despite considerable controversy within the Clinton Administration.