TOMPKINS COUNTY, N.Y.—Newfield Planning Board member Randy Brown has announced his candidacy for the Tompkins County Legislature, aiming to represent District 8, which encompasses the Town of Newfield and a portion of Enfield. Brown is running as a Republican.
Brown, a longtime area resident, currently serves on the Newfield Planning Board after being on the Newfield School Board for three terms, and is additionally a member of the Newfield Beautification Committee. District 8’s current representative, Dave McKenna, announced he would not be running for re-election.
“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,” Brown said in his announcement. “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’s announcement touts his involvement in Newfield recreation, stating that he worked to fund the free golf and free edible plants program, the latter of which impacts 100 homes. During his time on the school board, the announcement says that he was involved with bringing iPads, Native American art and 3-D printing into schools in Newfield.
Brown’s father formerly served as Newfield Town Supervisor, and Brown himself formerly worked at First National Bank and Citizens Savings for 14 years. After that, he worked at recycling-focused firm Ongweoweh, ascending the ladder until he became president. Subsequently, he became the CEO and President of Cortland Line, successfully turning a profit for several years before eventually retiring, according to his announcement. He has been married to Debi Russell for 28 years and has one child.
“I’ve always felt an obligation to the community we live in and I’m passionate about bringing better services, activities and opportunities to Newfield and Enfield residents,” he 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 hundreds of people I have had an opportunity to interact with. People make the difference and a good team determines success.”