Charles Brown (California)
Encyclopedia
Charles Duane 'Charlie' Brown (born December 13, 1949) is a retired U.S. Air Force
Lt. Colonel
and was the Democratic
nominee for Congress
in the 2006 election
and the 2008 election
for California's 4th congressional district
.
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 been married since 1975 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, is currently serving his fifth rotation in Iraq. Their daughter Stacey is a graduate of UC Irvine
. The Browns have lived in Roseville, California
since the early 1990s.
, 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. He criticized the incumbent
, John Doolittle
, for his connections to Jack Abramoff
and Mark Foley
.
As Doolittle faced an ongoing federal investigation into congressional corruption
scandals, including ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and defense contractor Brent R. 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."
Tom McClintock
. CQ Politics
forecast the race in this traditionally Republican district as 'No Clear Favorite'. Two polls paid for by Brown's campaign showed Brown in the lead; two polls sponsored by McClintock showed McClintock in the lead. As well, two independent polls by Research 2000/Daily Kos showed Brown leading.
The race proved to be so close on election night, with a difference of less than 500 votes between the candidates (out of more than 320,000 ballots cast) that its outcome was not known until four weeks after election day. Nearly 50,000 mail and provisional ballots needed to be counted to determine the winner. Initial counting of ballots was completed on December 2, showing an approximate 1,500 vote lead for McClintock. Brown officially conceded the race on December 3. Ultimately, Brown could not overcome a 3,500-vote deficit in Placer County, the largest county located entirely within the district.
In November 2009, Brown accepted an appointment from the Obama administration to work at the Department of Homeland Security.
Articles
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Lt. Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
and was the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee for Congress
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in the 2006 election
United States House elections, 2006
- House of Representatives prior to the election :As of November 7, 2006, the U.S. House of the 109th Congress was composed of 229 Republicans, 201 Democrats and 1 Independent . There were also four vacancies...
and the 2008 election
United States House elections, 2008
Infobox Election| election_name = United States House of Representatives elections, 2008| country = United States| type = legislative| ongoing = no...
for California's 4th congressional district
California's 4th congressional district
California's 4th congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California. It covers the northeastern corner of California along Route 395, encompassing El Dorado, Placer, Nevada, Sierra, Plumas, Lassen, and Modoc counties, as well as parts of Butte County...
.
Life and career
Brown was born in Grinnell, IowaGrinnell, Iowa
Grinnell is a city in Poweshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,218 at the 2010 census. Grinnell was named after Josiah Bushnell Grinnell and is the home of Grinnell College.- History :...
and grew up in small Midwestern farm towns. He received his commission after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
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
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
to the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
.
During the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, Brown flew rescue helicopter
CH-53 Sea Stallion
The CH-53 Sea Stallion is the most common name for the Sikorsky S-65 family of heavy-lift transport helicopters. Originally developed for use by the United States Marine Corps, it is also in service with Germany, Iran, Israel, and Mexico...
missions in Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia and participated in the evacuations of Saigon
Operation Frequent Wind
Operation Frequent Wind was the evacuation by helicopter of American civilians and 'at-risk' Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam, on 29–30 April 1975 during the last days of the Vietnam War...
, Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
, and the Mayagüez incident
Mayagüez incident
The Mayaguez incident between the Khmer Rouge and the United States from May 12–15, 1975, was the last official battle of the Vietnam War. The names of the Americans killed, as well as those of three Marines who were left behind on the island of Koh Tang after the battle and who were subsequently...
, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
He later flew fixed-wing
Fixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
missions in support of operations in Panama, Grenada
Invasion of Grenada
The Invasion of Grenada, codenamed Operation Urgent Fury, was a 1983 United States-led invasion of Grenada, a Caribbean island nation with a population of about 100,000 located north of Venezuela. Triggered by a military coup which had ousted a four-year revolutionary government, the invasion...
, Lebanon
Multinational Force in Lebanon
The Multinational Force in Lebanon was an international peacekeeping force created in 1982 and sent to Lebanon to oversee the withdrawal of the Palestine Liberation Organization...
, Libya
Operation El Dorado Canyon
The 1986 United States bombing of Libya, code-named Operation El Dorado Canyon, comprised the joint United States Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps air-strikes against Libya on April 15, 1986. The attack was carried out in response to the 1986 Berlin discotheque bombing.-Origins:Shortly after his...
, and other countries. After the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, he served in Air Force intelligence
Air Intelligence Agency
-External links:* * * *...
and was assigned to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
where he coordinated surveillance flights over Iraq’s "no-fly zones
Iraqi no-fly zones
The Iraqi no-fly zones were a set of two separate no-fly zones , and were proclaimed by the United States, United Kingdom and France after the Gulf War of 1991 to protect the Kurdish people in northern Iraq and Shiite Muslims in the south. Iraqi aircraft were forbidden from flying inside the zones...
". He also monitored worldwide airborne reconnaissance while assigned to Beale Air Force Base
Beale Air Force Base
Beale Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east of Marysville, California. Originally known as Camp Beale....
.
Brown holds a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in aviation management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a private university in the US specializing in aviation and aerospace engineering. It teaches the science, practice, and business of aviation and aerospace. Called "The Harvard of the Sky" by Time Magazine in 1979, Embry-Riddle has a history dating back to...
and a California teaching credential
Teaching credential
A United States teaching credential is a basic multiple or single subject credential obtained upon completion of a bachelor's degree and prescribed professional education requirements. Teaching credentials are required in the United States in order to qualify to teach public school, as well as many...
. 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 been married since 1975 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, is currently serving his fifth rotation in Iraq. Their daughter Stacey is a graduate of UC Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
. The Browns have lived in Roseville, California
Roseville, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Roseville had a population of 118,788. The population density was 3,279.4 people per square mile...
since the early 1990s.
2006 Congressional campaign
Brown ran as a fiscal conservativeFiscal conservatism
Fiscal conservatism is a political term used to describe a fiscal policy that advocates avoiding deficit spending. Fiscal conservatives often consider reduction of overall government spending and national debt as well as ensuring balanced budget of paramount importance...
, calling for balancing
Balanced budget
A balanced budget is when there is neither a budget deficit or a budget surplus – when revenues equal expenditure – particularly by a government. More generally, it refers to when there is no deficit, but possibly a surplus...
the federal budget and emphasizing policy issues and personal character over party affiliation. He had himself been a life-long Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
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
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
, including the Second Amendment
Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights.In 2008 and 2010, the Supreme Court issued two Second...
." He criticized Republican leaders in the George W. Bush administration
George W. Bush administration
The presidency of George W. Bush began on January 20, 2001, when he was inaugurated as the 43rd President of the United States of America. The oldest son of former president George H. W. Bush, George W...
and the 109th Congress
109th United States Congress
The One Hundred Ninth United States Congress was the legislative branch of the United States, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, from January 3, 2005 to January 3, 2007, during the fifth and sixth years of George W. Bush's presidency. House members...
for warrantless spying on American citizens; or creating huge and ineffective bureaucracies
Bureaucracy
A bureaucracy is an organization of non-elected officials of a governmental or organization who implement the rules, laws, and functions of their institution, and are occasionally characterized by officialism and red tape.-Weberian bureaucracy:...
; or in fiscal responsibility
Fiscal policy
In economics and political science, fiscal policy is the use of government expenditure and revenue collection to influence the economy....
and running up the largest deficit
Deficit spending
Deficit spending is the amount by which a government, private company, or individual's spending exceeds income over a particular period of time, also called simply "deficit," or "budget deficit," the opposite of budget surplus....
in American history. He criticized the incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
, John Doolittle
John Doolittle
John Taylor Doolittle , American politician, was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1991 to 2009, representing . In the 109th Congress, he held a leadership role as the Deputy Whip for the Republican party in the House...
, for his connections to Jack Abramoff
Jack Abramoff
Jack Abramoff is an American former lobbyist and businessman. Convicted in 2006 of mail fraud and conspiracy, he was at the heart of an extensive corruption investigation that led to the conviction of White House officials J. Steven Griles and David Safavian, U.S. Representative Bob Ney, and nine...
and Mark Foley
Mark Foley
Mark Adam Foley is a former member of the United States House of Representatives. He served from 1995 until 2006, representing the 16th District of Florida as a member of the Republican Party....
.
As Doolittle faced an ongoing federal investigation into congressional corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
scandals, including ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and defense contractor Brent R. Wilkes, Brown emphasized the need for ethical representation in Congress. Promising transparency
Transparency (humanities)
Transparency, as used in science, engineering, business, the humanities and in a social context more generally, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Transparency is operating in such a way that it is easy for others to see what actions are performed...
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
Moderate
In politics and religion, a moderate is an individual who is not extreme, partisan or radical. In recent years, political moderates has gained traction as a buzzword....
, Brown identified his other top priorities as: protecting Social Security
Social Security (United States)
In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...
; keeping American jobs at home
Offshoring
Offshoring describes the relocation by a company of a business process from one country to another—typically an operational process, such as manufacturing, or supporting processes, such as accounting. Even state governments employ offshoring...
; stopping out-of-control deficit spending; strengthening national security
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
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
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
, 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
California's 4th congressional district
California's 4th congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California. It covers the northeastern corner of California along Route 395, encompassing El Dorado, Placer, Nevada, Sierra, Plumas, Lassen, and Modoc counties, as well as parts of Butte County...
, 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
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
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, running against Southern California Republican State SenatorState Senator
A state senator is a member of a state's Senate, the upper house in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a legislator in Nebraska's one house State Legislature.There are typically fewer state senators than there are members of a state's lower house...
Tom McClintock
Tom McClintock
Thomas Miller McClintock II is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is a former Assemblyman and state Senator...
. CQ Politics
Congressional Quarterly
Congressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
forecast the race in this traditionally Republican district as 'No Clear Favorite'. Two polls paid for by Brown's campaign showed Brown in the lead; two polls sponsored by McClintock showed McClintock in the lead. As well, two independent polls by Research 2000/Daily Kos showed Brown leading.
The race proved to be so close on election night, with a difference of less than 500 votes between the candidates (out of more than 320,000 ballots cast) that its outcome was not known until four weeks after election day. Nearly 50,000 mail and provisional ballots needed to be counted to determine the winner. Initial counting of ballots was completed on December 2, showing an approximate 1,500 vote lead for McClintock. Brown officially conceded the race on December 3. Ultimately, Brown could not overcome a 3,500-vote deficit in Placer County, the largest county located entirely within the district.
In November 2009, Brown accepted an appointment from the Obama administration to work at the Department of Homeland Security.
External links
- Charlie Brown for Congress, campaign website
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
Articles
- Biography: Charles Brown, KXTV news10.net
- "Valor: The Mayaguez Incident", Air Force Magazine