Politics & Government

Meet Northampton County Executive Candidate: John Brown

Republican John Brown is running for Northampton County Executive in Tuesday's election.

JOHN BROWN

Age: 52

Family: Married to Tina Sbrocchi Brown for 28 years; son, Zachary Brown.

Education: University of Notre Dame (1983), BS, Microbiology; Bangor High School (1979).

Party Affiliation: Republican

Professional: Currently mayor of Bangor; 30 years of executive experience working domestically and globally primarily in the chemical and pharmaceutical related industries.

Social media: Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/BrownForExecutive; Twitter: @Brown4Executive

Q. What is the overriding need facing the county and what needs to be done about it?

A. The county has been using the rainy day fund to cover serial deficits to balance the budget. Projections for 2014 have this fund dwindling to approximately $14 million. The deficits are reflective of much deeper structural operating issues within the county. We need to undertake a systematic approach to identify root causes and create a strategic plan that incorporates short-, medium- and long-term solutions to alleviate the deficit.

Q. What would you do about the need to fix bridges and infrastructure?

A. We can no longer ignore the infrastructure needs of the county. Fortunately, the current administration has recognized this and started the process of addressing the bridges and infrastructure when they issued a bond in July of this year. This bond includes replacement or repairs of approximately 18 bridges within the next three years. I would expand this initial work and propose creating a comprehensive short-, medium- and long-term plan to address the remaining bridges and infrastructure needs.

Q. How would you help municipalities in the county that are struggling to balance their budgets?

A. We have to be able to operate government in a cost-effective way and keep taxes as low as possible without sacrificing core operations. The only way to do this is to focus on managing and controlling cost and broaden our views to work together on a regional basis. During my four years as Bangor’s mayor, using these principles, we were able to eliminate a deficit and create a generous surplus that allowed us to reduce taxes in 2013. Bangor has adopted a preliminary budget for 2014 that proposes a tax reduction for the second year in a row while also paying down long-term debt and improving borough services. Additionally, we have been proactive with reaching out to our sister communities to create partnerships and determine how we can work together to manage to reduce costs through shared services and drive economic revitalization.

Q. Why should county residents vote for you?

A. I have demonstrated leadership abilities that include working across diverse bipartisan groups to build coalition and partnerships around common goals. In addition, the skills I have acquired over 30 years of leading multiple businesses domestically and globally through a myriad of challenges, including helping turn around struggling operations, are essential to be successful as the county executive. As mayor, I utilized these skills on behalf of the taxpayers I was elected to represent and was able to lower taxes, reduced long-term debt and expand services. I am committed to doing the same for the taxpayers of Northampton County as their county executive.


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