You’re a good man, Charlie Brown. Corny lead-in, and an obvious take on a very famous name – but this guy is no cartoon character. After sweeping the June 3 Democratic primary with 88 percent of the vote, he is now in full-blown campaign mode as he goes up against his Republican foe Tom McClintock in a heated battle for John Doolittle’s congressional seat. Strong opinions and convictions coupled with well thought-out strategies for tackling everything from economic woes and energy policy to the military quagmire in Iraq, differentiate him not only from the fictional Schulz creation, but from ‘politics-as-usual’ prototypes in general.
Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Brown, the son of a decorated war veteran, began his military ambitions at age 13 when he read an article about the Air Force in the ‘Saturday Evening Post’ and knew he was destined to be a pilot. He received a Congressional appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1968.
His 26-year Air Force career began in 1972 and spans military conflicts from Vietnam to Desert Storm. As a rescue helicopter pilot based in Thailand at the end of the Vietnam War, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Does this mean that Brown, an active member of the Beale Gun Club and former Republican, who officially switched over to the Democratic side in 2005, is pro-war?
No.
‘My son is preparing for his fifth rotation in Iraq. No one is pro-war,’ said Brown. ‘We are in this situation and we all want to feel safe. I am a proponent of national security – that’s why we are there. Hugely important, I am a supporter of taking care of our men and women when they come home.’
But how does his military career help the Fourth District?
For starters, he emphasizes that the knowledge gained from his military experience and his connections are invaluable. For instance, the military is funding technology we could use right here in our own backyard. Brown cites that last year, Nevada’s Nellis Air Force Base activated North America’s largest photovoltaic system, powered up by 72,000 solar panels and providing the base with 25 percent of its energy needs, or 14 megawatts annually. He hopes to make alternative energy projects like this a reality in his district and cites the Sierra Army Depot and Beale Air Force Base as possible locations.
On a grander scale, Brown recently unveiled a comprehensive, six point energy strategy he calls the ‘Apollo Program.’ Stating that ‘the current energy crisis provides us with the single greatest economic opportunity this country has seen since the industrial revolution if we are prepared to act,’ and noting that America must fundamentally change the way it powers itself, Brown’s plan outlines short and long term solutions and claims to involve no new federal spending. By closing tax loopholes for the oil industry, requiring oil companies to begin drilling on 80 percent of the federal land they are leasing but not exploring, and expanding refinery capacity, the Apollo Plan would dramatically increase domestic oil production in the near term. Brown admits he will consider drilling offshore and in ANWAR as part of a strategy to increase domestic production, but reinforces that ‘we need something in the near term, we need results.’
His Apollo program would also capitalize on the spending power of the federal government. ‘The U.S. Government is the largest landholder and consumer of energy in the world. It holds more than 1.2 million property assets and spends over $14.5 billion per year on energy consumption,’ Brown states in a recent press release. ‘Simply shifting these energy consumption dollars into clean, renewable technologies would yield a plethora of benefits including sending a strong message to OPEC about our desire for energy independence, driving down oil prices as well as jumpstarting the ‘entire renewable energy market and economy in America,’ according to Brown.
Seems simple when put that way. Straightforward, innovative and bi-partisan strategies aimed at tackling difficult issues are becoming a hallmark of Charlie Brown’s campaign. ‘I’m trying to give people something to be for…let’s talk about common solutions to problems. I’m looking at what is best for the country, not at political parties. We have problems. None of them are new. Gas prices. Immigration. I, we, need to be measured by the standards of results,’ Brown said.
In a clear example of putting his money where his mouth is, Brown has committed five percent of every dollar raised by his campaign since September 2007 to organizations serving veterans and families in need through a program called the ‘Promises Kept Veterans Charity Challenge.’ Explaining the program on his website, Brown states that ‘we will identify both local and national organizations meeting critical veterans aftercare needs, and will describe their work on our website.
We will then ask the public to learn more about them, and vote for their favorite. Funds will be distributed on an ongoing basis, and recipients will be listed on this page.’ This effort has already raised over $55,000 and he is calling on ‘every candidate in any party, running for every level of elected office, to do much more than just say they ’support our troops,’ by joining us in this effort to truly leave no veteran behind.’ With 100,000 veterans residing in the District, and the majority of services being provided by underfunded nonprofit organizations, Brown is adamant about the need for citizen engagement on this issue. ‘It’s everybody’s problem,’ he said.
Brown’s campaign also donated $2,000 in relief efforts to District 4 residents displaced by last summer’s Angora fire in Lake Tahoe and he is spending a good deal of time looking at how the Truckee Tahoe region fits into the larger domain of the District.
‘It is the jewel of the district with a diverse economy. The recreational dollars, which are a huge mainstay in your economy, represent a fantastic quality of life. The natural beauty of the region in the Lake Tahoe/Truckee area is an added incentive for our high-tech industry residents in Roseville, Lincoln and Sacramento, who know they can be in the Sierra in an hour-and-a-half drive,’ Brown said. ‘From an environmental standpoint, it is our main source of water supply that needs to be protected.’
He is concerned about the exodus of younger residents out of the area as well due to a lack of jobs in business and industry. ‘It is time we supported local businesses. Supporting high-tech jobs that are non-polluting, endorsing bio-fuels. The Winter Olympics of 2018 (would be) a great way to stimulate the economy,’ he said.
Keeping the local economy strong in the Truckee Tahoe region of District 4, which Brown considers one of the most strategically important regions in the U.S., is about having the right priorities. Protecting the abundant natural resources which make the area a preeminent recreation area is paramount, says Brown, and ensuring adequate funding for fire safety and prevention, which he says is down 30 percent despite growing risks, is at the top of the list. He believes paying for forest thinning up front and making biomass viable are essential. He also points to the need for better funding of rural health care and roads. It’s also vital to ensure we don’t lose valuable federal program dollars, which fund important services like education and infrastructure.
This topic came up when asked about Doolittle, his former opponent and current representative in the House. Brown gets a little heated when discussing Doolittle’s lack of action addressing the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000, which expired in 2006. The bill was designed to offset lost timber revenues and provide payments to impacted state and county coffers from the sale of forest service parcels to fund schools and roads. Doolittle voted against HR 517, which would have extended the bill until 2013. A one-year extension was granted in 2007, but Brown supports full re-authorization, noting that teachers are getting pink slips and schools are consolidating and closing down because of lost revenues. In certain counties, like Plumas, Lassen and Butte, this federal funding accounts for as much as one-third of budget spending for schools and roads and Brown plans to work hard for its re-up. Education is also a top priority for Brown. He obtained a California Teaching credential after retiring from his military career and also supports reform of Bush’s No Child Left Behind policy.
Touting ‘Patriotism Before Partisanship’ in a recent campaign ad, Brown recognizes and will seek to find remedies for the stalemates that often arise in our district by encouraging dialogue and supporting better interaction between local, state and federal agencies. But there is another component as well. According to Brown, the answers are not simple, but very do-able and success involves personal responsibility.
‘Whether it is big business or government, you need to get involved and let people, myself included, hear your voice,’ Brown said. ‘If you’re attending a small-event business council, take notes and then present them in writing, or online, or, in my case, call me with your concerns. The media is a great means of making your suggestions become a reality; letters to your editors, that all is in your power and favor.’
With a slight lead in the polls and a huge lead in campaign contributions over McClintock, the next few months will no doubt be a whirlwind for Charlie Brown. Based on his relentless pursuit to take back the CA-04 seat for the Democrats, which has been in Republican control since 1991, and his promise to ‘attend every event I can’ in the eastern reaches of the district, voters should have ample opportunity to get to meet and know this candidate. Take some time to take a look at Charlie Brown.
For info, call 916-782-7696 or visit charliebrownforcongress.com.
Brown’s Beliefs
Iraq War: Brown did not support the U.S. invasion and believes a political solution, not a military one, is the way to go. Looking forward, he believes we should establish accountability with enforceable benchmarks for progress on which our aid will be based and re-deploy most of the U.S. troops out of Iraq, while keeping limited counterterrorism operations.
Jobs/Economy: Brown wants to create and keep jobs by investing in education, technology, energy independence and fair trade. He also supports permannent tax relief for the middle class and the elimination of the Alternative Minimum Tax.
Healthcare: Brown supports the expansion of SCHIP to ensure children have a chance to grow up healthy and wants to increase access to quality, affordable healthcare, especially preventative care, for all Americans.
Environment/Energy: Clean energy independence is a cornerstone of Brown’s campaign and he wants to increase renewable energy incentives as well as invest in domestic energy production. He supports the Kyoto Accords, strong enforcement of clean air and water standards, and higher fuel efficiency standards.
Lobbying/Ethics Reform: Brown wants to lead the fight to eliminate influence peddling which he feels has eroded Congress by wiping out lobbyist-sponsored gifts and travel, supporting earmark reform, putting a five-year ban on Congress members becoming lobbyists after leaving office and not allowing spouses to receive payments from campaign contributions.
Gay Marriage: While Brown believes marriage is a religious ceremony between a man and woman, he would never vote to impose this belief on others.
Immigration: Brown wants to secure America’s borders, enforce laws against employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, and is against amnesty for illegals already here. This means they should be required to pay fines, back taxes, learn English and be put at the back of the line.
Source: charliebrownforcongress.com
