My name is Russ Brown and I am running as a Democrat to Representative you in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Please vote for me on August 9th.

My wife Genie and I live in Richford on our small family farm, we have five adult children and five grandchildren. Our farm reflects the respect we have for the land, our community and our rural values.   I am the Vice President of the Waushara/Adams Farmers Union.  Genie is a delegate of the Conservation Congress and the Treasurer for the Town of Richford.  Prior to starting our farm, I was the Senior Vice President, a Commercial Lender and the Director of Marketing with a successful community bank.

Five years ago my wife Genie and I read an announcement in the paper about a meeting of concerned citizens to discuss the news of a factory farm looking to bring an industrial-size operation with over 5,000 cows into our area.  Since that time, we have met hundreds of great people standing up for their rights, we learned of the threats to our home, our quality of life, the environment, our health and our local economy.  We have lobbied in Madison, attended public hearings, wrote “letters to the editor” and joined with others in the fight in Kewaunee, Saratoga, Bayfield, Crawford, Green Lake and so many other places.  We joined the Farmers Union, Family Farm Defenders, the League of Conservation Voters, and the Sierra Club.

Lobbying leads to more lobbying as issues of High-capacity wells; Local control; Cuts to education; Road repair; Cuts to the DNR; Selling of public lands, Mining bills, Aerial spraying of manure; Voter ID; and Right-to-Work have all come under attack in the “Open for Business” free-for-all currently going on in Madison.  Scott Krug and the Republican majority in Madison do not represent our Wisconsin values.

We can have a healthy and clean environment with family supporting jobs.  We must preserve our traditional family farms, local businesses, and our recreation and tourism industries, they are essential to the economic viability of our community and our quality of life. We must prioritize public health, environmental protection, and the land and water rights of all members of our community.  I support the retaining and expanding of publicly‐owned recreational and wild lands for the sustaining of the environment, its’ economic value and the outdoor enjoyment of all.

“Right to Work” is the “Right to Work for Less.”   Right to work states have lower wages; lower rates of  health insurance coverage; higher poverty and infant mortality rates; less investment in education; and higher rates of workplace fatalities.  I support the right to unionize, fair wages and family sustaining jobs, they are essential to our community and our democracy.

Teaching is a profession, I know it personally because I have two children who are teachers.   Quality public education for all is critical to a healthy democracy and economy. The current march towards privatization which uses public funding for private schools diverts resources from and adversely impacts our public schools.  Together we must work to uphold and defend our schools, from K-12 through the UW System.

My experience and education gives me the insight to represent the people of the 72nd district and to move Wisconsin in a better direction.  We need a renewed commitment to our Wisconsin values and we need change in our state Assembly.  As your Representative, I will bring business experience, a work ethic, honest decision making and common sense to Madison.  Please vote for me in the primary on August 9th.

Russ Brown

Candidate for State Assembly – 72nd District