http://www.brownformissouri.com/press-releases/ en jason@brownformissouri.com Copyright 2008 2008-06-12T22:34:00-06:00 http://www.brownformissouri.com/site/womens-political-organizations-endorse-brown-in-73rd/ http://www.brownformissouri.com/site/womens-political-organizations-endorse-brown-in-73rd/#When:22:34:00Z June 12 - St. Louis Steve Brown’s campaign for 73rd District State Representative garnered two very significant endorsements today.  Both the Missouri Women’s Leadership Coalition and the Missouri ERA Political Action Committee have offered their support for his candidacy. Brown’s campaign has emphasized his commitment to carry on the legacy of Sue Shear, his late aunt and a celebrated matriarch of progressive politics, and he says he is very gratified and humbled by the endorsements.  “I recognize that these groups usually focus their support behind women candidates, so for them to back me says a lot.  I may not look like the typical champion of women’s issues at first glance, but I am deeply committed to helping create a world where the genders of my son and daughter do not unfairly advantage or hinder their full development.  I am honored and touched that these groups have invited me to fight side-by-side with them in that effort.” Brown remarked further, “It is high time all of us recognize that so-called “women’s issues” like women’s rights, equal pay for equal work, and access to a full array of women’s health options are really people issues that affect us all.  Such issues cannot remain invisible to or misunderstood by lawmakers in Jefferson City.” The Missouri Women’s Leadership Coalition was founded in early 2001 to recruit and train women for leadership positions in the public and private sectors.  After some very successful years, the coalition of seven different MO women’s groups – including the American Association of University Women, Business and Professional Women, Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus, Missouri Women’s Network, Missourians for Choice, Missouri NOW, and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Kansas and Mid-Missouri - launched the Missouri ERA Political Action Committee to expand their political influence.  The groups have also endorsed Steve Brown’s competitor, Stacey Newman, reflecting their confidence that either candidates would serve as an effective champion for women’s issues in Jefferson City.  2008-06-12T22:34:00-06:00 http://www.brownformissouri.com/site/environmental-group-endorses-brown-in-73rd/ http://www.brownformissouri.com/site/environmental-group-endorses-brown-in-73rd/#When:16:22:00Z June 12 - St. Louis Steve Brown has won another key endorsement in the 73rd District race for State Representative.  Citing his decades-long commitment to environmental issues and his stalwart advocacy of cleaner energy and greener development, Missouri Votes Conservation has announced its formal support of Brown’s candidacy.  “We have known Steve to be a fellow traveler for some time.  But we are especially impressed by his vision for a greener and healthier economy in Missouri,” said MVC Executive Director Mark Fogal.  Brown has made a point of talking about the opportunity to simultaneously invest in Missouri’s economy and a greener future by developing greener construction practices and more renewable energy sources.  Brown’s campaign has also been working hard to promote the passage of a November ballot initiative that would require public utilities to boost the amount of Renewable Energy they provide from less than 1% to at least 15% by 2021.  (The ballot initiative includes a stop-gap measure to prevent cost hikes greater than 2% and a model of the plan enacted in Columbia Missouri has been very successful.) Brown was delighted by the endorsement.  “I have always cared about the environment.  And with energy prices soaring and the concerns about global warming growing, I think a lot more Missourians are starting to care about how much energy we use and where it comes from.  If we seize this opportunity to invest in a greener future, we can make some real changes that help our economy and our planet at the same time.” This is the latest in a long string of endorsements for Brown including many state and local leaders, public safety organizations, and labor unions.  For a full list of official supporters, see Brown’s website at www.brownformissouri.com.  2008-06-12T16:22:00-06:00 http://www.brownformissouri.com/site/steve-brown-bbq-a-big-hit-in-73rd/ http://www.brownformissouri.com/site/steve-brown-bbq-a-big-hit-in-73rd/#When:19:09:01Z June 9th, St. Louis On the hottest and sunniest Sunday we’ve seen this year, well over 200 people took refuge in the cool shade of a pavilion at Deer Creek (AKA “Rocket Ship") Park where Steve Brown and a long list of state and local officials served up BBQ, Mr. Wizard’s ice cream, hours of good music, and fun games for kids. Billed as the “Steve Brown Family BBQ, “ the event featured many ways for families to ensure their children’s safety and get involved in the betterment of their communities.  Families earned raffle tickets for having the safety of their kids’ car seats, bikes, and bike helmets checked by professionals.  These services were generously donated by Cardinal Glennon Hospital’s “Safe Kids” program, The St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation’s “Bike Smart” program, Big Shark Bicycle Co., and Dr. Joe Cangas of “Helmets First.” Families also earned raffle tickets for their participation in a fire safety course offered by Jennifer Stuhlman of Missouri Firefighters Local 2665 and for submitting ideas that could improve their communities.  Raffle winners won a host of prizes including T-shirts, Toys, and the Grand Prize, a kid’s bike donated by Big Shark Bicycle Co.  The elated grand-prize winner, Charity, and her father expect to go to Big Shark today to claim her bicycle. The non-political community-building event was co-hosted by Maplewood Mayor Mark Langston, Richmond Heights Mayor Jim Beck, Former Richmond Heights Mayor Betty Humphrey, Clayton Alderperson Cynthia Garnholz, Clayton Alderperson Alex Berger, Richmond Heights Council Member Paul Lore, State Senator Jeff Smith, and most of the Maplewood Richmond Heights School Board members– including Maria Langston, Steve Findley, Reverend Nate Malone, Ben Stotler, and Sheryl Montford.  Many of the co-hosts and Steve Brown himself volunteered to be dropped into a dunk tank by community members.  Attendees paid for the opportunity to splash their local leaders and the proceeds are going to “Gateway to Hope,” a charitable organization that provides treatment options to women with breast cancer who are un- or under-insured. Brown was very pleased with the event.  “To me this is what being a State Representative should be about – bringing people together as a community to take care of one another.  It’s not just about voting the right way in Jefferson City – which, of course, I plan to do.  It’s about uniting families and local and state government in common spirit and common cause.” The Steve Brown Family BBQ was certainly a big step in that direction. For more information contact Campaign Co-Manager, Nick Adams at 314-398-7070 or 2008-06-09T19:09:01-06:00 http://www.brownformissouri.com/site/labor-backs-brown-in-73rd/ http://www.brownformissouri.com/site/labor-backs-brown-in-73rd/#When:18:25:00Z May 21, 2008 - Steve Brown’s campaign for the 73rd District State Representative seat has received a slew of labor endorsements in the last week.  Both of the two largest and most active labor clubs in St. Louis County – The North County and South County Labor Clubs – have come out to back Brown.  Together they represent over 40 unions in the area.  The United Auto Workers (UAW) also announced their endorsement of Brown’s candidacy along with the two largest Communications Workers of America Locals in the St. Louis Region (CWA Locals 6310 and 6320).  Brown said he was very gratified to receive the endorsements of the unions and their membership.  “This has been a week of great news.  I am humbled and honored to have the support of the unionized workers in this district.  Without unions, we wouldn’t be the middle class country we are today.  And if we don’t support them and help them grow in strength, our economy will become increasingly unbalanced.” The labor organizations chose Brown for because he has showed such a commitment to the issues that matter to working folks – increasing access to affordable and quality health coverage, improving public education, and creating a stronger and greener economy. These are just the most recent endorsements for Brown in his race for representative.  He is also supported by top Democrats like Senator Claire McCaskill and Former Treasurer Nancy Farmer and many local government officials including Maplewood Mayor Mark Langston, Richmond Heights Mayor Jim Beck and Former Mayor Betty Humphrey, among others. 2008-05-23T18:25:00-06:00 http://www.brownformissouri.com/site/brown-builds-on-local-support-in-richmond-heights/ http://www.brownformissouri.com/site/brown-builds-on-local-support-in-richmond-heights/#When:21:14:00Z Steve Brown, candidate for Missouri’s 73rd House District seat, continues to win the endorsements of local elected officials.  Most recently, Jim Beck and Betty Humphrey have announced their support of his candidacy.  Mayor Jim Beck had this to say about Brown: “Steve is a strong candidate.  He has a great deal of experience as a public servant, has a great personal style, and he’s been pounding the pavement here in Richmond Heights for months now.  I hope I get the chance to work with him in the coming years.” Former Mayor Betty Humphrey had similar feelings about Brown: “Steve is so hard-working, and he clearly cares about the people of this district.  Add that to his experience in state government and knowledge about policy, and you get an excellent public servant.” A spokesperson for Steve Brown’s campaign said Brown was honored to have the Mayors’ support.  “It is always great to have the support of municipal officials, and not just because they are helpful in elections.  Partnering with local officials is essential for effective representation.  Being a State Representative is about much more than casting votes in the General Assembly, it is also about working with the local leaders in your district to ensure that government – at all levels – is working the best it can for all the people.” Brown appears to be laying the groundwork to be just such a Representative.  With the endorsements of Former Mayor Humphrey, Mayor Beck, and the previously announced endorsement of Maplewood Mayor Mark Langston, Brown is building a solid foundation of support among municipal leaders in his district.  These are just the latest endorsements for Brown.  He is also backed by U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, Former State Treasurer Nancy Farmer, the Family of Sue Shear, County Councilman Mike O’Mara, and The Missouri Firefighters Association. For more information, contact Campaign Co-Manager, Nick Adams at 314-398-7070 or 2008-05-07T21:14:00-06:00 http://www.brownformissouri.com/site/steve-brown-poll-shows-large-early-lead/ http://www.brownformissouri.com/site/steve-brown-poll-shows-large-early-lead/#When:20:48:00Z A recent poll of primary voters in Missouri’s 73rd district shows that Steve Brown leads his competitor Stacey Newman among all demographics.  The survey of 400 likely primary voters indicated that he is better known than Newman (38%/24%) and is very popular among those who do have an impression of him (34% net favorable; 4% net unfavorable).  In a head-to-head matchup of the two candidates, Brown has a double-digit lead.  Thirty-six percent said they plan to vote for Steve Brown while just 13% said they would vote for Newman.  This nearly 3-to-1 advantage is mirrored in the strength of the candidates’ support; nearly a quarter (24%) strongly support Brown while only eight percent strongly support Newman.  Brown Spokesperson Nick Adams, said the campaign is pleased with the results but will not be complacent.  “The numbers show that when people meet Steve, they like him and they agree with his progressive message.  But there is a long way to go until August 5th, and we plan to reinforce our efforts to ensure that every voter gets a chance to talk with Steve.” Brown has been canvassing the 73rd District meeting voters and discussing issues for six months.  His main priorities include increasing access to affordable and quality health care to all Missourians, improving the state’s public education system, and ensuring Missouri’s economic future by investing in the growth of the life sciences industry and green-collar jobs in renewable energy.  With a similarly strong lead in fundraising – a nearly 2-to-1 advantage in cash on hand – Brown should have little trouble spreading his message across the 73rd District. Momentum Analysis conducted the April 8-10 survey with 400 voters likely to vote in the August 5th Democratic primary.  The results have a margin of error of +/- 4.9% For more information, contact Deputy Campaign Manager, Nick Adams, at 314-398-7070. 2008-04-24T20:48:00-06:00 http://www.brownformissouri.com/site/maplewood-mayor-endorses-steve-brown-for-state-representative-in-73rd-race/ http://www.brownformissouri.com/site/maplewood-mayor-endorses-steve-brown-for-state-representative-in-73rd-race/#When:17:10:00Z Maplewood Mayor Mark Langston endorsed Democrat Steve Brown for State Representative today.  Langston said he was impressed with Brown’s efforts to reach into his community and learn about the issues affecting Maplewood’s residents.  “Steve has a great deal of experience working in Missouri government and a great knowledge of the issues affecting this district.  But I am also impressed by his early efforts to reach out to voters.  You can tell he really cares about people around here,” Langston said.  “I feel Steve truly understands many of the challenges that face, not only Maplewood, but all of the inner-ring cities in St. Louis County.” “I am grateful for Mayor Langston’s endorsement,” Brown said.  “These kinds of working relationships really matter.  As State Representative, it will be important for me to work with mayors in all of the inner-ring cities so I can ensure that the state government helps them grow and prosper.  Having friendships with people at various levels of Missouri government just allows me to be an even better public servant.” This is just the latest endorsement for Steve Brown in his campaign to fill the 73rd District’s open State Representative seat.  Other endorsements include U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, former State Treasurer Nancy Farmer, The Sue Shear Family, The Missouri Firefighters Association, and many others.  A full endorsement list is available at http://www.brownformissouri.com. Steve Brown has worked as an assistant Attorney General in the office of Jay Nixon, Democratic candidate for Governor, for the last ten years.  During his tenure he partnered with various levels of Missouri government and was promoted to Deputy Chief Counsel for his efforts. For more information, contact Deputy Campaign Manager, Nick Adams, at nick@brownformissouri.com or 314-398-7070. 2008-03-06T17:10:00-06:00 http://www.brownformissouri.com/site/firefighters-endorse-steve-brown/ http://www.brownformissouri.com/site/firefighters-endorse-steve-brown/#When:21:24:01Z Reflecting Steve Brown’s commitment to public safety and his increasingly strong campaign, the Professional Firefighters of Eastern Missouri I.A.F.F. Local 2665 and Missouri State Council of Firefighters have endorsed Brown in his campaign for State Representative.  These are the first union endorsements of any candidate in the race. The firefighters’ organizations cited Steve’s ability and commitment to help meet the growing demands on first responders as their key reason for supporting his candidacy.  “With strong leaders like Steve Brown in Jefferson City fighting to ensure that Missouri’s first responders have the tools necessary to protect our communities, I am confident that our members will be able to exceed the expectations of Missouri’s citizens,” said Kurt Becker, 4th District Vice President of Local 2665.  This is just one of many significant endorsements Steve Brown has garnered in his race for Missouri’s 73rd State Representative seat.  He has also won the support of U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, Former State Treasurer Nancy Farmer, Former St. Louis County Council Chair Michael O’Mara, and the Sue Shear Family among others.  The endorsements of these large and active unions are expected to be especially important to Brown’s grassroots efforts.  Steve said that he was grateful for the support. “I count it as a great honor to carry the Firefighter’s endorsement.  These are the people who run in when everyone else is running out.  They spend their lives trying to save the lives of others.  The least we can do as legislators is to ensure that they have all the resources they need to carry out their jobs effectively.  I look forward to partnering with the firefighters, and I look forward to bringing their spirit of community service to Jefferson City on behalf of the 73rd District.” Local 2665 is the largest Firefighters local in the St. Louis metropolitan area, representing some 1800 firefighters.  The Missouri State Council of Firefighters is the largest in Missouri, representing 5000 firefighters throughout the state. 2008-01-22T21:24:01-06:00 http://www.brownformissouri.com/site/sue-shear-family-endorses-steve-brown-for-state-representative/ http://www.brownformissouri.com/site/sue-shear-family-endorses-steve-brown-for-state-representative/#When:17:52:00Z Shear’s children say Brown ready to carry on family’s tradition of public service ST. LOUIS—Ken, Kerry, and Katherine Shear, the three children of late Representative Sue Shear, today announced their endorsement of attorney Steve Brown’s candidacy for State Representative in the 73rd District. Brown, who served in the Attorney General’s office as Chief Deputy Counsel for Eastern Missouri, has a long history of active support for reproductive freedom, environmental protection, and equal rights for all. Citing Brown’s tireless advocacy on behalf of the causes for which their mother famously fought, the Shears called Brown a natural heir to Representative Shear’s legacy of service. “For decades, Steve Brown has fought for the very progressive values my mom held dear,” said Katherine Shear. “He has given his time, his money, and his energy to causes that honor her legacy as the conscience of the Missouri House. That’s why he’s the best person to go to Jefferson and continue her work.” Ken Shear agreed. “When Steve was just a boy, he would walk door-to-door handing out flyers for our mom, and stand outside the polls telling people what our mom did to protect public education. Now, with public education in Missouri facing unprecedented assaults, it is critical that we have someone with his commitment to public schools as State Representative.” Brown has a long history of community involvement. He was a founding board member of Missouri Votes Conservation, which fights to protect our state’s air and water and to encourage energy conservation. He served as vice president of the St. Louis Chapter of the American Jewish Committee, which works to fight bigotry and to foster an atmosphere of tolerance of all people. He is a longtime board trustee at Blackburn College, a small southern Illinois school with a mission of helping low-income rural students access higher education. “I am honored to have the support of the Shear family,” Brown said. “Rep. Shear was the first person I ever campaigned for, and my family instilled in me the values she held dear. Because of the strength of her convictions and the passion for public service she inspired in me, the endorsement of her children is especially close to my heart.” 2007-12-06T17:52:00-06:00 http://www.brownformissouri.com/site/united-states-senator-claire-mccaskill-endorses-democratic-steve-brown-for/ http://www.brownformissouri.com/site/united-states-senator-claire-mccaskill-endorses-democratic-steve-brown-for/#When:18:16:00Z ST. LOUIS– Today, United States Senator Claire McCaskill endorsed Democratic candidate for State Representative Steve Brown, who is running in the 73rd District to replace Representative Margaret Donnelly. Emphasizing that this would be the only primary race in Missouri in which she would endorse a candidate, McCaskill cited Brown’s experience and character as reasons for her support.  “Steve Brown is a smart, hard-working public servant,” McCaskill said. “I know he will be a fantastic state representative and I strongly endorse his candidacy.  His experience as an assistant attorney general will serve him and his district very well.” Brown, who served in the Attorney General’s office as Deputy Chief Counsel for the Eastern District of Missouri, is the nephew of legendary Representative Sue Shear, who represented the district in the 1970’s and 1980s. In the Attorney General’s office, Brown handled a variety of consumer protection and criminal cases, serving as the lead prosecutor on the “No-Call Attack Team” where he tracked violators of the state’s no-call laws and made sure they paid hefty civil penalties for harassing citizens. “I am honored to have the support of Senator McCaskill,” Brown said. “Her election to the U.S. Senate represented a new era for the Democratic Party in Missouri. She has been a strong and outspoken voice for many of the progressive causes I will champion in the Legislature.” McCaskill is the second high-ranking Missouri Democrat to endorse Brown. In early September, Brown received the support of former State Treasurer Nancy Farmer, who cited Brown’s staunch support of public education and reproductive freedom. Born and raised in St. Louis County, Brown graduated from Denison University in Ohio and received his law degree from Washington University.  He and his wife, Rebecca, have two children, 3-year old Ben and 3-month-old Sarah. 2007-10-08T18:16:00-06:00