Republican View: Support Randy Brown for Legislature

Why Republican? I was at a meeting last week designed to bring Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives closer together, not on policy, but on how we talk to one another, how we can better understand one another and why we believe what we believe.

For me, I became a Republican because I always had an abhorrence to slavery. Somehow the party of Lincoln, the party established to end slavery, is now depicted by some as the party of oppression. Just because the Democratic Party decided to change course in 1964 and end its racist history doesn’t mean the Republican Party picked up the torch.

I also became a Republican during the Cold War and saw that while one can be prepared for war, by being prepared, war can be averted. I also abhor war even though I know it’s sometimes necessary, but that’s why it was good last week to hear from someone else that he is Republican because he is anti-war.

Randy Brown is running for the Tompkins County Legislature as both a Republican and an Independent.

Brown is one of those candidates who goes beyond party, much like his predecessors Dave McKenna, Greg Stevenson and Dan Winch. I served with all three of them, and each was hard to pin down on issues. It can be downright frustrating at times; it’s also why I believe they got elected and left office being well thought of by voters and colleagues.

Brown is a sixth-generation Newfielder/Enfielder, and he’s running for County Legislator for the town of Newfield and part of Enfield. For some, they wait to serve a community until they are an elected official even saying in campaign flyers, “I’m ready to work,” or “I’ve decided to serve.” That’s not Brown because he’s always given to his community, elected representative or not; he’s always served.

Brown is a former member of the Newfield School Board and is currently on the Planning Board. He has been deeply involved in Newfield recreation and is a member of the Newfield Beautification Committee. His family is also heavily involved in the Newfield Library.

In his announcement that he is running for office, Brown said, “This is just another opportunity for me to give back to a community that’s meant so much to my family for over a century. We don’t want what’s important to Newfield and Enfield to be lost at the County Legislature in Ithaca. We need a voice, and I hope the people of this district choose me to be that voice.”

Brown served three terms on the Newfield School Board and was involved in projects including bringing Native American art, iPads and 3D printing to the schools. He’s in his eighth year on the Planning Board and helped develop the first Comprehensive Plan, including the first subdivision law, and is currently working on a hamlet plan.

At Newfield recreation, he worked to fund the free golf program and free edible plants program for 100 homes. As part of the Beautification Committee, Randy helped coordinate various planting projects in the hamlet and worked with the committee for the “Welcome” sign that now greets travelers to Newfield.

Brown’s family is not new to politics. His father was the former Newfield town supervisor. Brown attended Tompkins Cortland Community College and worked at First National Bank for eight years. He worked his way up at Ongweoweh to eventually have a stake in the company.

He was able to turn around one of their failing plants, making it profitable. He and his sales team were able to boost sales by 700%. He then sold his share in the company and left there to use that same turnaround expertise at Cortland Line.

He signed on as CEO and president and was able to make the company profitable in under three years. He left there and now spends his time working in the community and restoring an 1830 home in the hamlet.

Brown’s been married for 28 years to Debi Russell Brown and has an adult child, Laura. I asked Randy why Newfield and Enfield should put him on the Legislature.

“I’ve always felt an obligation to the community we live in,” Randy said. “One of my best skills is the ability to listen, observe and to ask questions. I’m not afraid to state my opinion once I understand an issue and my focus is on solutions, not blame. What I know, I have learned from the hundreds of people I have had an opportunity to interact with. People make the difference and empowering those around you is critical to achieving mutual goals.”

I hope you’ll take a look at Randy, ask him questions and consider voting for him Nov. 2.