By Steve Kemme
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - A single mother's inability to get day care while she is deployed overseas as a Marine corporal has prompted Butler County commissioners to lobby for a change in Ohio law.

Cpl. Flora Herndon, based in San Diego, recently asked her aunt, Patty Thomas of West Chester Township, to take care of her 2-year-old son, Lewis, after she is deployed to an unknown location Jan. 20. Her Marine salary is so low that she qualifies in California for a day-care subsidy, and she receives no child-support payments from her ex-husband.

But the Butler County Department of Job and Family Services rejected Mrs. Thomas' request for a day-care subsidy for caring for Lewis, who was supposed to arrive at her home next Tuesday.

In Ohio, eligibility for a day-care subsidy depends on the income of the household where the children are living. The income of Mrs. Thomas and her husband, Arthur, exceeds the maximum standard.

The county commissioners were appalled when Mrs. Thomas informed them of her niece's plight two days ago.

"This matter is ludicrous," Commissioner Courtney Combs said Thursday. "It's just incredible that in Ohio, our service people can't get assistance when they put their lives on the line."

The commissioners agreed to waive the eligibility requirement for Mrs. Thomas.

But just before they made that decision, Cpl. Herndon decided to place her son with her sister in Aberdeen, Wash.

Despite that, the commissioners want state law to exempt military parents deployed overseas from the day-care subsidy eligibility requirement.

They sent letters to the three Butler County state representatives. Mr. Combs said he will ask the County Commissioners Association of Ohio to propose legislation when that organization meets next Thursday in Columbus.

Bruce Jewett, director of the Butler County Department of Job and Family Services, said he knows of no other situations like Cpl. Herndon's.

E-mail skemme@enquirer.com