Eugene R. "Gene" Brown

Eugene R. "Gene" Brown
Republican
Candidate for: County Commissioner, District 3

Age: 69
City of residence: Sandpoint
Years of residence in Bonner County and Idaho: 33
Marital status/family: Widower
Contact information:
    P.O. Box 1668
    Sandpoint, ID 83864
    [email protected]

Education: Two years college, extensive travel, I read a lot

Recent or pertinent employment history: 

• Currently staff writer for national magazine; retired bookstore owner (Brown's Books, Sandpoint), as a kid did sports for L.A. Times and Herald Examiner, author of five books, wrote weekly column (Panhandle Report) for Spokesman-Review 
• Did extensive research on Recessions, Depressions, base and precious metals for private organization in Newport Beach, Calif.

Public offices held:

• Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, '93-'95
• Member, First Judicial District Magistrate's Commission, '93-'05

Relevant professional affiliations:
Former member Outdoor Writers of America

Nonprofit groups or service organizations to which you belong:
American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, Honor Guard for Sandpoint VFW Post, NRA Endowment Member, Bonner County Sportsmen, Past member American Society of Aviculture, Guide on Whale Watch Boat for several years, served on Board of Directors for Sandpoint Senior Citizens.

Relevant experience you wish to include or mention:
Developed successful reading programs for elementary and junior high school students, as volunteer taught writing and cartooning classes at Southside Elementary, Sandpoint Junior Academy, Washington Elementary. Have given thousands of books away to students, shut-ins, the county jail and community groups.

Why are you running for public office?
As a former commissioner, I actually lowered taxes without one county employee being laid off or dropping services. And, not one county employee filed a grievance suit against commissioners during my term. Talking with my opponent, I learned that he has a very small grasp of economic realities. He promised to lower taxes and many other things that did not come to pass. Such as an election concerning the EMT program and how it was formed.

If you are elected, how much time will you spend each week in the office?
A full 40-hour workweek plus time on weekends. Whatever it takes to turn things around for the people of Bonner County. Importantly, I will not let Boise bureaucrats and lobbyists influence or control my decisions as my opponent does. 

Describe the top three to five issues you believe are most important, why you consider them most important, and your position on these issues.

1. Waste of time travel at taxpayer expense by my opponent. Problems are here and are not solved by constantly running from them.
2. Failure by commissioners to scrutinize the monthly claims payments and county budget. This results in wasteful spending. It allso makes it easy to steal from the county.
3. Unfair treatment by commissioners concerning their constituents. This leads to strife and mistrust of county government.

What differentiates you from other candidates? Why should people vote for you?
I do what I say I am going to do. I do not make irrational, pie-in-the-sky promises during a campaign ... then forget them when elected. My financial and work background has covered a wide spectrum. This is invaluable experience for commissioners, especially during the economic problems of our time.