ROSEVILLE - Congressional candidate Charlie Brown donated another $40,500 to local veterans' assistance groups Friday, saying he was fulfilling a pledge to donate 5 percent of all campaign contributions to such groups.

"We don't have to wait until Election Day," said Brown, a Roseville Democrat who has made veterans' assistance a cornerstone of his campaign for the 4th Congressional District. "We can take some action now, today."

Brown's donation - part of a total donation of $90,000 this year - went to more than a half-dozen groups, based in Sacramento, Roseville, Oroville, Nevada County and elsewhere.

"What we're doing today is far beyond what any slick mailer or telephone ad can do," he said.

Representatives from each of the nonprofit organizations spoke, stressing that all donations go straight to helping veterans, and thanking Brown for making a financial commitment at a time economically, they said, when they see more veterans who need help, and have less money to help them.

As a representative from Cottage Housing, a housing assistance group, said, "It's more than just money, it's about saving lives."

The donation also impressed U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena), a U.S. Army veteran who spoke briefly at the event.

"So often, you hear people say that vets deserve this or that, and that may be so," Thompson said. "The fact is, vets have earned it.

"It's heartening to me to see someone like Charlie who not only talks about it, but puts his money where his mouth is," he said.

Bill George, a campaign spokesman for Brown opponent state Sen. Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks), said he found one aspect of the event intriguing.

"It's interesting that no other Democrat has stepped up to Charlie's challenge," he said, referring to the campaign donation pledge. He did not attend the event and said he had no further comment.

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