Watch: Sherrod Brown visits Sandusky

SANDUSKY — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown hasn't endorsed any of the numerous Democrats running for president, but he has plenty of advice for them.Democrats trying to occupy the White House need to talk about the dignity of work and making life better for workers, Brown, D-Ohio, said."The more they do, the more chance they have to beat Trump," Brown said.Brown, who considered running for president but decided to concentrate on his Senate job instead, offered the comments during a Tuesday appearance on "Between the Lines Live," the Sandusky Register's public affairs program. The 15-minute interview is available for demand viewing at sanduskyregister.com/btl and the Register's YouTube channel.Brown, 66, lives in Cleveland with his wife Connie Schultz, an author and columnist. He's serving his third six-year term in the Senate after winning re-election last year.Brown, mulling a presidential bid, went on a "Dignity of Work" tour earlier this year to four states that have early importance in the presidential nominating process, including New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina, before deciding not to run.He told Matt Westerhold, the host of "Between the Lines Live" and the Register's managing editor, that Democrats need to show "they will govern this country through the eyes of workers."The economy has been doing well, but workers have seen few benefits from that, Brown said. He said Democrats need to talk to working families about wages, benefits, work schedules, child care, retirement and other aspects of work.Brown said he has made no endorsements in the presidential race, but would support any of the Democrats over Trump.He said Trump divides the country, calls people names, cozies up to dictators from countries such as North Korea, Turkey and Russia and does not get along well with leaders of traditional American allies."I worry about our relations around the world. I think it's important we show support for democracy," Brown said.Brown said he is pushing to hearings in the U.S. Senate on the problems experienced by U.S. soldiers exposed to toxic chemicals from burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. The open-air pits were used to burn materials that U.S. commanders wanted to be destroyed.A Sandusky woman, Susan Zeier, has campaigned to draw attention to the medical problems suffered by American soldiers exposed to the chemicals. Zeier's son-in-law is among the veterans injured by the chemicals. As Zeier sat in the studio audience, Brown said, "The military should have known better. I look back to what happened with Agent Orange," referring to the herbicide used during the Vietnam War that has been blamed for many illnesses.Brown said he wants hearings to be held by the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee that will feature testimony from experts and from victims. He said he has raised the matter with Trump and with Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., the chairman of the committee.Trump has not shown interest yet, but Brown said he'll keep pushing until hearings occur.Brown said he hopes efforts will succeed to get rid of gerrymandering in Ohio so elections to the U.S. House will be more competitive.He noted although Ohio generally has an even political balance, Ohio has 12 Republican U.S. House members and only four Democrats. That's been true through several elections, he said, illustrating how the political process has been distorted."The politicians are picking their voters, and not the other way around," Brown said.Sandusky city manager Eric Wobser points out the different construction going on in downtown Sandusky to Sen. Sherrod Brown on Tuesday, May 28, 2019.Sen. Sherrod Brown visits the Register for "Between the Lines" on Tuesday, May 28, 2019.Sen. Sherrod Brown talks with Sandusky city manager Eric Wobser as they head toward the new City Hall on Columbus Avenue in downtown Sandusky on Tuesday, May 28, 2019.From left, Mike Marous, Chip Marous, Eric Wobser and Dennis Murray have a conversation with Sen. Sherrod Brown outside the new City Hall on Columbus Avenue in downtown Sandusky on Tuesday, May 28, 2019.While walking with Sen. Sherrod Brown, Sandusky city manager Eric Wobser points to the future home of City Hall in downtown Sandusky on Tuesday, May 28, 2019.Sen. Sherrod Brown views the construction of City Hall with Mike Marous and Chip Marous on Tuesday, May 28, 2019, in downtown Sandusky.Mike Marous of Marous Brothers Construction, right, shows Sen. Sherrod Brown the inside of the construction going on at the new City Hall on Columbus Avenue in downtown Sandusky on Tuesday, May 28, 2019.Sandusky city manager Eric Wobser walks with Sen. Sherrod Brown as they head to the new city hall on Columbus Avenue on Tuesday, May 28, 2019.