This was posted on the Granite Bay Press-Tribune. In light of the current economic circumstances, this is devastating for Brown. Brown was Chairman of the advisory committee of Sierra Central Credit Union and apparently was as unstable then as his campaign is today.

As issues go, the economy is the 800 lb. gorilla in this Congressional race, and many Californians will cast their vote for the most qualified and trustworthy financial expert. Dire warnings from the Federal Reserve Chairman about the next Great Depression have a way of focusing the mind.

The election is 21 days out, and absentee voting is underway.  Charlie Brown's formidable Congressional opponent Tom McClintock is respected nationwide as a brilliant economics expert and strong fiscal conservative.

Charlie has several debates with McClintock and at least a few radio interviews under his belt. The whole point of these appearances is to get to know the candidates better.  Few voters would send a rank amateur in financial matters to Congress right now.  The stakes have never been higher (at least not in the last seven decades). The millions of Americans who opposed the $770 billion bailout are especially wary. 

And yet, 4th District Congressional candidate Charlie Brown barely mentions his sole financial credential - approximately four years of experience as Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of Sierra Central Credit Union.  According to the following quote on the Charlie Brown for Congress website, he was quite the crusader...

"He's remained true to his values. In 1996, Charlie was elected Chair of the Supervisory Committee of a local Credit Union.   Responsible for fiscal oversight of an institution rife with waste and abuse, Charlie didn't turn a blind eye. He stood up for the fiscal responsibility that his members deserved."

Throughout the campaign, up until the 10/9 Bruce Maiman interview on KFBK, Charlie's website stated that it was a $5 million credit union.  That night, a caller identified as Greg called in to the radio talk show to ask Charlie to explain a $195 million discrepancy.  The call went like this:

(Caller) Greg:  "Charlie, I want to ask you a little bit about your financial experience...  We're going through a financial crisis right now, right?  And I see on your website ...  It says on your website it was a $5 million credit union.  Well, you know what?  I did some research,  and it wasn't $5 million, it was $200 million... Where's your math?  It was a $200 million credit union at that time, and since you left their Supervisory Committee, it has grown, it's tripled to a $600 million credit union. So that's why I'm curious as to the veracity, and the accuracy of your website."

Charlie:  "Well, I guess...  you know, while I was there, the assets I was aware of were $5 million, it has grown tremendously since then..."

(Interrupted by caller)

(Caller) Greg:  "No, no, no that's not true.  When you left it, when you left that Supervisory Committee, it was $200 million, that's a hundred and ninety-five..."

(Interrupted by host Bruce Maiman)  

Bruce: "Who says...  who says  - I know, Greg?  I know that the website says $5 million, who says it's $200 million??"

(Caller) Greg:  "Pardon me?"

Bruce:  "Who says it's $200 million?"(Caller) Greg:  "Those are the facts, Bruce."

Bruce:  "Where are those facts?"

(Caller) Greg:  "The facts are available.   Charlie, what credit union was it?"

Charlie:  "Uh...Sierra Central?"

(Caller) Greg:  "Sierra Central Credit Union, it's based in Yuba City, I've been a member of that credit union for a long time.  I know what the facts are, and Charlie, I can't understand what's on your website."

Charlie: "Uh, they were not, they did not have $200 million in assets when I left it."

(Caller) Greg:  "Yes they did.  And it's $600 million now, which means they tripled in growth since you left.  What's that about?"

Bruce:  "When did you leave Charlie?"

Charlie:  "Uh, let's see -  woulda left it right around 2000?"

Bruce:  "So, between 2000 and 2006-2007, and there's been tremendous growth, has it not? Could that have anything to do with it Greg?"

(Caller) Greg:  "Well, Bruce, here's my point.  With the financial crises we have going on right now, it's a federal crime to make false assertions about  a financial institution that might cause it harm."

Bruce: "Greg, from what I understand, the credit union says there's never been any fraud or abuse."

(Caller) Greg:  "And you know what?  The current management of the credit union has been absolutely stellar.  Charlie left under some duress, after the current management came in, and it's grown tremendously, and yet Charlie says it was a $5 million credit union when in fact it was a $200 million credit union."

Charlie:  "I think you must have it confused with the Golden One or something and need to..."

(Caller) Greg:  "No, no, no, don't be giving me that stuff Charlie!  I've been a member of that credit union for a long time."

Bruce:  "Greg, where can we get that information, other than Charlie Brown's website?"

(Caller) Greg:  "Go to www.sccu..."  (Interrupted by Bruce) .... Call their CEO!!!"

Bruce:  "O.K., you know what, let's do this. 

Greg, let me put you on hold for a minute, and  can you give that information to Kendall, and then I can check on that later?

.... If we're going to talk veracity here, let's have some facts backed up that we can check."

The name of the credit union has never been on the "Charlie Brown for Congress" website, which seems strange. The description of his reign as Chairman of the Supervisory Committee lacks any specifics.  It seems logical that if Charlie was the crusader who cleaned up a financial institution rife with waste and abuse, he would chronicle his successful reform measures.

Instead  of compelling evidence, the reader is left with vague, unverifiable claims...  "he didn't turn a blind eye" and "he stood up for the fiscal responsibility that his members deserved."

Perhaps Charlie is hoping that no one will check the facts. And he might have gotten by with it, if not for caller Greg.

A little research into Sierra Central Credit Union's history makes two things clear. Charlie Brown can't keep his numbers straight, and Sierra Central Credit Union is much better off without him.

Sierra Central Credit Union had approximately $29 million in assets when it was formed in 1981. By 1999, SCCU had approximately $242 million in assets.

These numbers raise serious doubts about Charlie Brown's competence.

Charlie Brown was Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of a credit union for several years, and he can't remember that this financial institution had over $200 million in assets? Indeed, he swears up and down it was only $5 million.

During Charlie's tenure as Chairman of the Supervisory Committee at SCCU, things went badly. Membership dropped, growth stagnated, and several key staff members left the credit union, creating a nine-month long leadership void.

It's becoming clear why caller Greg kept emphasizing the fact that SCCU grew rapidly after Charlie left. It looks as though there's a connection.

In January of 2000, SCCU's Board of Directors made a hiring decision that led to a finance management Dream Team: John Cassidy, Jim Almon, and Ron Sweeney. Their first move was to "identify problems" and begin building a new leadership team. It appears that it was during this process that Charlie left the credit union's Supervisory Committee.

These changes led to "what some still call a miraculous recovery," with an explosive growth in assets that has continued to present day.

After the Bruce Maiman show, the "$5 million" reference disappeared from the Charlie Brown for Congress website, but everything else about the credit union remained.

It might be time for 4th District voters to begin taking a long, hard look at Charlie Brown and demanding the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. He is asking us to place the future of our economy in his hands. That's a lot to ask, for a man who can't remember the difference between $5 million and $200 million.