Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown was the Democratic candidate in the 2008 congressional elections for the 4th Congressional District (map) of California. He won the Democratic nomination in the June 2008 primaries, so he ran against Tom McClintock (R) to replace retiring incumbent Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.) in November 2008. Brown lost to McClintock in the general election following a lengthy ballot count.

Positions, record and controversies
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."

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. Brown supports the Sunlight Foundation's Punch Clock Campaign.

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.

Life and career
Brown was born in Iowa in 1949 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 War 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 has worked for the past eight years on the professional staff of the Roseville Police Department.

Brown and his wife, Jan, have been married for 35 years and have two children. Jan is also a military veteran, having served in the Air Force as a nurse. Their son, Jeff, an Air Force Captain, has served four rotations in Iraq and will begin his fifth late in 2008. Their daughter, Stacey, is a graduate of University of California, Irvine. The Browns have lived in Roseville, California since the early 1990s.

2006 elections
Brown was the Democratic Party nominee in the 2006 congressional election for the 4th Congressional District of California. He challenged incumbent Republican Rep. John Doolittle. Doolittle won, 49% to 46%.

2008 elections
Brown was nominated a second time in 2008. He is running against Southern California Republican State Senator Tom McClintock. The once-traditionally Republican fourth district is now considered one of the two most competitive districts in California, according to Congressional Quarterly.

Following the November 4 election, the race was too close to call. McClintock led Brown by 1,566 votes (0.427% of the vote), 184,190 to 182,624, on November 23, 2008. Although all precincts had reported their votes, thousands of mail and provisional ballots had not yet been counted. Election officials continued counting ballots through early December. By state law, 10% of the ballots will be recounted if a candidate wins by less than 0.5% of the vote.

On December 4, 2008, Brown conceded victory to McClintock. Brown lost the race by 1,576 votes (out of 367,510 cast).

Endorsements
Brown is endorsed by Senator Jim Webb of Virginia, former U.S. Senator Max Cleland, former NATO Commander General Wesley Clark, former Republican Congressman and Presidential candidate Pete McCloskey, numerous Republican local electeds, 2006 Libertarian Congressional nominee Dan Warren and many veterans' groups including Veterans' Press, The Circle of Friends for American Veterans and VoteVets.org.

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Campaign contributions
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As of September 30, 2008, Brown had raised $1,859,831, had spent $1,466,403, and had $456,833 cash on hand.

Committees
Brown will be assigned committees if and when he is elected to Congress.

More background data

 * Background information on Charlie Brown from Project Vote Smart
 * Public Statements of Charlie Brown from Project Vote Smart

Campaign contact information
Email: [mailto:info@brown4congress.org info@brown4congress.org] Phone: 1-(800)-727-6968 Mail: P.O. Box 4506, Auburn, CA 95604-4506 Campaign Office Headquarters: 342 Lincoln Street Roseville, CA 95678 916-78-BROWN

Media inquiries
Todd Stenhouse (Brown's Campaign Manager) Phone: (916) 397-1131 Email: toddstenhouse@comcast.net

Related SourceWatch articles

 * 2008 U.S. congressional elections
 * 2008 U.S. congressional election dates
 * Portal:California and the U.S. Congress

External resources

 * 2008 Race Tracker page on California's 4th Congressional District
 * Brown's FEC filings
 * Official Charlie Brown for Congress website
 * Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Dump Doolittle
 * Calitics
 * Tiger Beat: Music, Culture, and Politics

2006 elections

 * "Air Force vet to face Doolittle", Tahoe Daily Tribune , Oct. 19, 2005
 * "Veterans need to be remembered beyond today", The Union, Nov. 11, 2005
 * "Brown joins other vets in House races", The Union, Jan. 14, 2006
 * "Rep. Doolittle is asleep at the switch", Sierra Sun, Jan. 24, 2006
 * "Doolittle's ties to Abramoff give opponents hope", Sacramento Bee, Apr. 7, 2006
 * "Race for your life, Charlie Brown", Sacramento News & Review, May 4, 2006
 * "Race for your life, Charlie Brown", Sacramento News & Review, May 4, 2006
 * "Democrats' best bet is Charles Brown", Auburn Jounal, May 13, 2006
 * "State by State", The Hill, May 16, 2006
 * "Doolittle’s primary will test effects of Abramoff ties", Congressional Quarterly, Jun. 5, 2006
 * "What low turnout could mean for the November race" (video), KXTV news10.net, Jun. 7, 2006
 * "Drop in turnout hurts Doolittle", Scripps Howard News Service, Jun. 7, 2006
 * "Doolittle will face Brown in November", Tahoe Daily Tribune, Jun. 8, 2006
 * "Doolittle accepts offer to debate foe", Sacramento Bee, Jul. 12, 2006
 * "Doolittle was Abramoff island client's 'hero'", TPM Muckraker, Aug. 4, 2006
 * "Editorial: No Doolittle debate? District's voters deserve face-to-face forum", Sacramento Bee, Sep. 15, 2006
 * "Editorial: Time for Doolittle to go; elect Charlie Brown", Sacramento Bee, Sep. 18, 2006
 * "Perhaps it's time for a fresh face in D.C.", The Union, Sep. 26, 2006
 * "Doolittle, rival duel on alleged abuses", Sacramento Bee, Sep. 28, 2006
 * "Doolittle fires back against Brown ad: Ad says Doolittle tolerated forced abortions, sex slavery", KCRA 3 Reports, Sep. 29, 2006
 * "Abramoff allegations make Brown a legit threat to Doolittle", New York Times, Oct. 4, 2006
 * "Abramoff ties stick to California Rep. Doolittle" (audio), NPR Morning Edition, Oct. 5, 2006