Submitted photo Democrat candidate Dan Brown is challenging State Senator George Borrello, a Republican, to represent the 57th District. Brown wants to find ways to connect with the people and serve the community.

Democrat candidate Dan Brown is running against Republican state Sen. George Borrello to represent the state’s 57th District.

As the town supervisor in Great Valley for 17 years, Brown believes his experience gives him an advantage in the midterm elections. “For 17 years, I’ve been dealing with issues that are very similar to every town in this district,” he said. “When you look at the district, every one of these towns, every one of these schools, every one of these fire departments, they’re all very similar to exactly what I deal with in my town.”

Brown serves as the chairman of the Cattaraugus County Town Association. His experience as chairman has taught him the importance of good leadership.

“It’s my job to pull the group together,” he said. “Now is not the time to be fighting over things. Now is the time to be fixing things, and that’s what I do. If you can work within with one another and try to come to a consolidated plan to improve, that’s what it’s all about. That’s what I’ve been doing for 17 years over here in my town.”

Running against Borrello, Brown said his campaign has tried to cover a many events as possible to provide people with opportunities to learn who he is and how he plans to represent the 57th District if he is elected.

Although Brown said he does not “really know” Borrello, he said he has made attempts to “reach out” and “work with him.”

Brown believes he can bring a unique perspective to the table with his experience in public office, as well as his 30 years of dairy farming.

“I have more experience with what each and every one of these small towns have,” he said. “The issues that they deal with, I’ve dealt with them for 17 years.”

One of the central issues Brown is focusing on throughout his campaign is the economy.

He believes the rules and regulations that often deter businesses should be re-addressed to promote growth and opportunity in the district. Improving the economy in the region will be one of his top priorities, if he is elected in November.

“I think we can do better,” he said. “I think we have to do better if we’re going to expect our area here to grow and and not shrink like it has been doing. I think we need more help on the majority side of the senate, that’s why I decided to do it.”

The abortion debate sparked by the Supreme Court’s recent reversal of Roe v. Wade is another key issue for Brown’s campaign. As the father of three daughters, he said the issue is personal for him, and he supports the Democrat’s platform on abortion.

Another key issue for Brown is the environment. Brown said the town of Great Valley recently started the process of converting an old gravel pit into a solar energy farm.

“We’ve leased the land out to a solar company,” he said. “They are starting drilling this week. That ground that has served the people for five decades will now continue to serve that energy solar energy will go back into the grid.”

Brown believes the 57th District should take advantage over every possible energy source for the benefit of the region.

“My philosophy is that we make energy wherever we can, if it’s oil or it’s gas or it’s solar or it’s wind.”

If elected, Brown plans on taking a different approach to the position of state senator. He believes the position needs to place a higher emphasis on the needs of the constituents.

“I would have a much more hands on approach,” he said. “People would see me. It’s such a huge district. I wouldn’t expect a village or school or a town or city or an individual to have to come and find me, to come to one of my offices to find me.”

Interacting with local residents and making himself available is the highest priority for Brown. While he believes there are many challenges to address and many ways to improve the economy, his campaign message is focused on finding ways to connect with the community.

“The senator should be should be here to help,” he said. “Everyone should know who who your senator is. Realistically it’s going to be a rolling offense for the most part. If people want to see their senator, I’m going to them. I think you need to be in the communities when they need help. I wouldn’t expect someone to be chasing me down. I’m going to go to them; I’m not going to have them come to me.”