Professor goes political

Pam Brown runs for lieutenant governor

Dustin Johnson/ Roundup

This November, when citizens go to cast their votes, they will see a Pierce College professor on the ballot.

Professor of economics Dr. Pamela Brown is a libertarian who has her sights set on the position of lieutenant governor. Her intension is to settle the chaos that has plagued the state’s economy.

“People are sick of the same failed, corrupt politicians and grossly mismanaged budgets,” said Brown. “They’re tired of continuing high unemployment, late state budgets and hundreds of billions in state debt handed off to our young people.”

This is not her first time she has taken part in an election. In 2006 she ran for California senator, and in 2008, she ran for state assembly.

While the economy is a strong focus of her self-managed campaign, another platform is education reform, according to her website www.cawantsfreedom.com.

She proposes that greater competition among schools will aid in bringing down tuition costs and help bring up test scores.

“Public schools do a very poor job of educating students without competition from non-profit, charter and for-profit education centers,” she said. “Competition among schools encourages rapid improvement and increases student success.”

Brown is not a supporter of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), believing they inhibit the free market sentiment.

“Most of my colleagues are good enough to compete without a union,” she said. “Many of them are underpaid [due] to collective bargaining. Promoting is based on seniority, not skills [or] success in the classroom or superior performance.”

Around campus, Brown has found support in her decision to run for office.

“I think it’s always a plus if we can have people who really know community colleges run for public office,” said Kathleen Burke-Kelly, president of Pierce College. “That helps strengthen our position on state legislature.”

Professor of physics and astronomy Don Sparks and president of AFT’s Pierce College chapter, who endorses Democrat Jerry Brown’s gubernatorial campaign. Despite the difference of political views he remains supportive of Pam Brown.

“She is free to her opinion,” said Sparks. “As a faculty member she does well in the classroom. I’m delighted to see anyone [from Pierce] running.”

History Professor Richard Skidmore is an avid supporter of Brown, both as a fellow faculty member but also of what she promotes.

“Isn’t it exciting to have a faculty member from our community college to step up to the plate and run for lieutenant governor regardless of political party?” he said. “She wants students to come out of college and be able to think critically and not follow propaganda and indoctrination they received before coming to Pierce.”

Brown is confident that her policies reflect what 80 percent of Californians want and, as an economist, she can bring much-needed relief to the state budget crisis.

“I have the abilities needed to lead and I know which think-tanks and outside experts should be brought in to create legislation and the reforms needed,” Brown said.