Charles Brown (California)

Infobox Congressional Candidate
honorific-prefix =
name = Charlie Brown
honorific-suffix =


state = California
nominee = U.S. Representative for California, 4th District
incumbent = John Doolittle
opponent = Tom McClintock
election_date = November 4, 2008
date of birth=birth date and age|1949|12|13
place of birth = Iowa
date of death=
place of death=
spouse = Jan
party = Democratic
residence = Roseville, California
alma_mater = United States Air Force Academy, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
occupation = United States Air Force, ret.
religion =
website = [http://brown4congress.org/ brown4congress.org]

Charles Duane 'Charlie' Brown (born December 13, 1949) is a retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Colonel and the Democratic nominee for Congress in the 2008 election for California's 4th congressional district. He previously ran in the 2006 election for the same seat.

Life and career

Brown was born in Iowa and grew up in small Midwestern farm towns. He received his commission after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in 1972 and served 26 years in the military. He retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1998, having served in every armed conflict from Vietnam to the Gulf War.

During the Vietnam War, Brown flew rescue helicopter missions in Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia and participated in the evacuations of Saigon, Phnom Penh, and the Mayagüez incident, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

He later flew fixed-wing reconnaissance missions in support of operations in Panama, Grenada, Lebanon, Libya, and other countries. After the Gulf War, he served in Air Force intelligence and was assigned to Saudi Arabia where he coordinated surveillance flights over Iraq’s "no-fly zones". He also monitored worldwide airborne reconnaissance while assigned to Beale Air Force Base.

Brown holds a master's degree in aviation management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a California teaching credential. He was elected to two terms on the Supervisory Committee of the Sierra Central Credit Union and two terms as vice president of the Roseville Police Association, he also worked for eight years on the professional staff of the Roseville Police Department.

Brown and his wife, Jan, have two children. Jan is also a military veteran, having served in the Nurse Corps. Their son, Jeff, is an Air Force Captain, served his fourth rotation in Iraq and will serve his 5th in 2008. Their daughter, Stacey, is a graduate of UC Irvine.

2006 Congressional campaign

Brown ran as a fiscal conservative, calling for balancing the federal budget and emphasizing policy issues and personal character over party affiliation. He had himself been a life-long Republican until he felt that the party’s leadership abandoned its core values of security, integrity, prosperity, and conservation.

Brown defined his number-one issue as defending America and "the Constitution, including the Second Amendment." He criticized Republican leaders in the George W. Bush administration and the 109th Congress for warrantless spying on American citizens; or creating huge and ineffective bureaucracies; or in fiscal responsibility and running up the largest deficit in American history.cite web | url=http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=oid%3A56651 | title=Race for your life, Charlie Brown | publisher=Sacramento News & Review | date=May 4, 2006] He criticized the incumbent, John Doolittle, for his connections to Jack Abramoff and Mark Foley. [ [http://www.news10.net/storyfull2.aspx?storyid=20630 Doolittle, Brown Trade Verbal Blows at Fiery Debate] News 10]

As Doolittle faced an ongoing federal investigation into congressional corruption scandals, including ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and defense contractor Brent Wilkes, Brown emphasized the need for ethical representation in Congress. Promising transparency in government service if elected, he further pledged to publicly disclose anyone whom he would have met with to discuss legislation, including lobbyists.

A social moderate, Brown identified his other top priorities as: protecting Social Security; keeping American jobs at home; stopping out-of-control deficit spending; strengthening national security while bringing the war in Iraq to a quick and secure resolution; supporting strong, safe schools; ensuring clean water and air; and making good healthcare accessible to everyone. Brown is pro-choice, saying, "the government doesn’t get to make personal decisions for Americans, no matter how much they might like to do so.... I don’t have to approve. I don’t even have to understand. It’s not about me. It’s about individual liberties."

Citing the fact that the incumbent Doolittle received less than 42% of the total votes cast in the June 6, 2006, primaries, Brown characterized the result as being a strong majority vote for change. And Doolittle, who had won past elections with more than 65% of the vote, did go on to win the general election with less than a majority (49%) in the three-way race with Brown (46%) and Libertarian Dan Warren (5%), leading Brown to declare that, "No Republican will ever take the 4th District for granted again."

2008 Congressional Campaign

Brown was nominated a second time in 2008. He is running against Republican State Senator Tom McClintock. The traditionally Republican fourth district is now considered one of the two most competitive districts in California, according to Congressional Quarterly [cite web |url=http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-house |title=2008 House Ratings Chart |date=2008-08-18 |publisher=Congressional Quarterly] . Polls disagree as to who is leading the race. [United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2008]

Brown, a fiscal conservative, calls for balancing the federal budget. He emphasizes bipartisan cooperation, describing himself as loyal to his country, not to a political party. He had himself been a life-long Republican until, in his words, "the Bush administration abandoned any pretense of fiscal conservatism." [cite web | url=http://www.masoncontractors.org/newsandevents/masonryheadlines/headline.php?id=20061023112119 | title=California 4th District, South Lake Tahoe]

Brown, a retired Air Force officer whose son Jeff will soon begin his fifth tour of duty in Iraq as an Air Force pilot, emphasizes funding for veterans' services. He supports increased funding for the Veterans Administration, and he donates 5% of all campaign contributions he receives to charities that serve veterans in need.

Brown supports ethics reform in Congress. Promising transparency in government service if elected, he supports strong earmark reform, the elimination of gifts and travel sponsored by lobbyists, and prohibitions on members of Congress from becoming lobbyists for 5 years after leaving office.

A social moderate, Brown’s other top priorities include: protecting Social Security; keeping American jobs at home; stopping out-of-control deficit spending; strengthening national security while bringing the war in Iraq to a quick and secure resolution; supporting strong, safe schools; ensuring clean water and air; investing in alternative energy; and making good health care accessible to everyone.

Brown is endorsed by endorsed by U.S. Senator Max Cleland, former NATO Commander General Wesley Clark, former Republican Congressman Pete McCloskey, Senator Jim Webb of Virginia, and many veterans' groups including The Veterans Alliance for Security and Democracy and VoteVets.org. [cite web | url=http://yubanet.com/regional/New-McClintock-Attack-Site-Plagiarizes-Charlie-Brown-s-Website.php | title=New McClintock Attack Site Plagiarizes Charlie Brown's Website]

References

* [http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/74129.html "Doolittle takes stock after close win: He says he'll forgo any leadership role to focus on his district"] , "Sacramento Bee", Nov. 9, 2006
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6200978 "Abramoff ties stick to California Rep. Doolittle" (audio)] , "NPR Morning Edition", Oct. 5, 2006
* [http://www.nytimes.com/cq/2006/10/04/cq_1564.html "Abramoff allegations make Brown a legit threat to Doolittle"] , "New York Times", Oct. 4, 2006
* [http://www.kcra.com/news/9965047/detail.html "Doolittle fires back against Brown ad: Ad says Doolittle tolerated forced abortions, sex slavery"] , "KCRA 3 Reports", Sep. 29, 2006
* [http://www.sacbee.com/391/story/30590.html "Doolittle, rival duel on alleged abuses"] , "Sacramento Bee", Sep. 28, 2006
* [http://theunion.com/article/20060926/OPINION/109260117 "Perhaps it's time for a fresh face in D.C."] , "The Union", Sep. 26, 2006
* [http://www.sacbee.com/674/story/24049.html "Editorial: Time for Doolittle to go; elect Charlie Brown"] , "Sacramento Bee", Sep. 18, 2006
* [http://www.sacbee.com/324/story/23526.html "Editorial: No Doolittle debate? District's voters deserve face-to-face forum"] , "Sacramento Bee", Sep. 15, 2006
* [http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001269.php "Doolittle was Abramoff island client's 'hero'"] , "TPM Muckraker", Aug. 4, 2006
* [http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/14277105p-15086269c.html "Doolittle accepts offer to debate foe"] , "Sacramento Bee", Jul. 12, 2006
* [http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20060608/NEWS/106080055 "Doolittle will face Brown in November"] , "Tahoe Daily Tribune", Jun. 8, 2006
* [http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=DOOLITTLE-06-07-06 "Drop in turnout hurts Doolittle"] , "Scripps Howard News Service", Jun. 7, 2006
* [http://www.news10.net/video/player2.aspx?aid=28013&bw= "What low turnout could mean for the November race" (video)] , "KXTV news10.net", Jun. 7, 2006
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/2006/06/ca_4_doolittles_primary_will_t.html "Doolittle’s primary will test effects of Abramoff ties"] , "Congressional Quarterly", Jun. 5, 2006
* [http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Campaign/051606_state.html "State by State"] , "The Hill", May 16, 2006
* [http://www.auburnjournal.com/articles/2006/05/14/opinion/editorials/01brown14.txt "Democrats' best bet is Charles Brown"] , "Auburn Jounal", May 13, 2006
* [http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=oid%3A56651 "Race for your life, Charlie Brown"] , "Sacramento News & Review", May 4, 2006
* [http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=DOOLITTLE-04-07-06 "Doolittle's ties to Abramoff give opponents hope"] , "Sacramento Bee", Apr. 7, 2006
* [http://www.sierrasun.com/article/20060124/Opinion/101240005/-1/OPINION "Rep. Doolittle is asleep at the switch"] , "Sierra Sun", Jan. 24, 2006
* [http://www.theunion.com/article/20060114/OPINION/101140139 "Brown joins other vets in House races"] , "The Union", Jan. 14, 2006
* [http://www.theunion.com/article/20051111/OPINION/111110119 "Veterans need to be remembered beyond today"] , "The Union", Nov. 11, 2005
* [http://tahoedailytribune.com/article/20051019/NEWS/110190023 "Air Force vet to face Doolittle"] , "Tahoe Daily Tribune ", Oct. 19, 2005