Judging a Middle School Chili Cook-off With Sherrod Brown

In February, I was invited to join the judging panel at a local middle school chili cook-off. Finally, I thought, my years of food and drink writing were paying off. I always wanted to judge a cooking competition! And while a CCS middle school was not exactly the Food Network, I had to start somewhere.

I was joined at the judges' table by some local food bloggers and a radio show host, and feeling pretty good about it. And then, any clout we collectively brought to the cafeteria was crushed: Sherrod Brown and Connie Schultz walked in to the room and put on their judge sashes.

The event's organizer had given me a heads up that the once-and-future U.S. Senator and his Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist wife would be coming. But how do you prepare to meet titans?

I met them, chili spoon in hand, and tried my best to play it cool. Still, reader, I was not ready.

But I love that grandchildren of this Ohio power couple attend Columbus City Schools. The district, so maligned and underfunded by our state's legislature, is good enough for a U.S. senator's family. That should tell you something.

Of course, it's entirely keeping with Sherrod Brown's man-of-the people reputation. The couple's son-in-law, Patrick Katzenmeyer, is also a member of the Columbus City School Board.

The couple seemed genuinely thrilled to be there, even if the seating—designed for middle school students—was a bit awkward, set in such a way that I had to move my chair every time they wanted to get up for chili. No matter. I'd stand up for Sherrod Brown and Connie Schultz anytime.

Most of the middle schoolers treated the couple like ordinary grandparents. One kid introduced himself as their granddaughter's husband in the upcoming school musical. This gave Sherrod Brown a chuckle. "Well, I'm surprised we haven't met yet," he said.

For the next two years, our U.S. Senator will be someone that I also know as part of the community: A grandpa that samples spoonfuls of chili, laughing with middle schoolers in their cafeteria.

Imagine what our public schools would be like if more politicians did this.

Wow, those were some midterms! We'll be talking more in future issues about how the upcoming changes might affect local schools. But in the meantime, meet some incoming elected officials stepping into new roles:

• In 2019, I spoke to incoming Secretary of State Allison Russo when she was gearing up for her first term in the Ohio House of Representatives for (614) magazine.
• Last year for Columbus Monthly, I interviewed Upper Arlington Mayor Ukeme Awakessien Jeter, who was just elected to represent Ohio House District 7.

Thanks for reading and voting.

Editor's note: Quotes and anecdotes in this story are from memory and notes taken immediately after the February event. We have done our best to recount things as they occurred. For student privacy, we withheld the name of the school that hosted the event.