Brooks Firestone
Encyclopedia
Anthony Brooks Firestone (b. 18 June 1939 ) is an American businessman and politician.
The son of Leonard Firestone
, a grandson of Harvey Samuel Firestone and Idabelle Smith
, and a nephew of Harvey Firestone, Jr., he was educated at The Webb School
, and graduated from Columbia University
. He worked for Firestone
until 1972, when he quit the company, and moved his family to the Santa Ynez Valley
.
He represented the 35th District in the California State Assembly
for two terms (1994–1998). In 1998, he ran for the United States House of Representatives
to succeed the late Walter Capps
, but lost the Republican nomination to Tom Bordonaro, who went on to lose the general election to Lois Capps, the widow of the prior incumbent. Firestone currently operates the San Antonio Ranch, Firestone Vineyard
LLC, Prosperity Wines, and other businesses.
His son, Adam, and his son-in-law, David Walker, run Firestone Walker Brewing Company; his other son, Andrew
, appeared on ABC
's show The Bachelor.
In the 2004 supervisor election, Firestone defeated John Buttny (former Weather Underground
activist), Slick Gardner (a local rancher and convicted animal rights
violator) and Steve Pappas (a local entrepreneur and image consultant) for the district seat. As Supervisor, Firestone has been criticised for his plan to get rid of the county's Oak Tree Protection ordinance, a historic 1998 compromise between agriculture and environmental interests.
The son of Leonard Firestone
Leonard Firestone
Leonard Kimball Firestone , was a business man, ambassador and philanthropist.-Biography:...
, a grandson of Harvey Samuel Firestone and Idabelle Smith
Idabelle Smith Firestone
Idabelle Smith Firestone was an American composer and songwriter.Born in Jackson, Michigan , she was educated at Alma College, Ontario. Her father, George, held the patent to the flour milling process....
, and a nephew of Harvey Firestone, Jr., he was educated at The Webb School
The Webb Schools
The Webb Schools is the collective name for two private schools for grades 9-12, founded by Thompson Webb, located in Claremont, California. The Webb School of California for boys was established in 1922, and the Vivian Webb School for girls in 1981. Both are primarily boarding schools, but they...
, and graduated from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. He worked for Firestone
Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company is an American tire company founded by Harvey Firestone in 1900 to supply pneumatic tires for wagons, buggies, and other forms of wheeled transportation common in the era. Firestone soon saw the huge potential for marketing tires for automobiles. The company...
until 1972, when he quit the company, and moved his family to the Santa Ynez Valley
Santa Ynez Valley
The Santa Ynez Valley is located in Santa Barbara County, California, between the Santa Ynez Mountains to the south and the San Rafael Mountains to the north. The Santa Ynez River flows through the valley from east to west. The Santa Ynez Valley is separated from the Los Alamos Valley, to the...
.
He represented the 35th District in the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
for two terms (1994–1998). In 1998, he ran for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
to succeed the late Walter Capps
Walter Capps
Walter Holden Capps was an American politician. He was a Democratic Party member of the United States House of Representatives. Capps had lost an election to Andrea Seastrand for the 22nd district in California in 1994, which had been a landslide year for the Republicans. Seastrand, a...
, but lost the Republican nomination to Tom Bordonaro, who went on to lose the general election to Lois Capps, the widow of the prior incumbent. Firestone currently operates the San Antonio Ranch, Firestone Vineyard
Firestone Vineyard
A family-owned estate winery specializing in fine wines from California’s Central Coast. Firestone Vineyard was founded in 1972 as Santa Barbara County’s first estate winery.Firestone Vineyard is one of the wineries along the famous Foxen Canyon Wine Trail....
LLC, Prosperity Wines, and other businesses.
His son, Adam, and his son-in-law, David Walker, run Firestone Walker Brewing Company; his other son, Andrew
Andrew Firestone
Andrew Boulton Firestone is an American TV reality show personality. He is the son of Brooks Firestone, a grandson of Leonard Firestone, and a great-grandson of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company founder Harvey Firestone and Idabelle Smith....
, appeared on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's show The Bachelor.
In the 2004 supervisor election, Firestone defeated John Buttny (former Weather Underground
Weatherman (organization)
Weatherman, known colloquially as the Weathermen and later the Weather Underground Organization , was an American radical left organization. It originated in 1969 as a faction of Students for a Democratic Society composed for the most part of the national office leadership of SDS and their...
activist), Slick Gardner (a local rancher and convicted animal rights
Animal welfare
Animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals.The term animal welfare can also mean human concern for animal welfare or a position in a debate on animal ethics and animal rights...
violator) and Steve Pappas (a local entrepreneur and image consultant) for the district seat. As Supervisor, Firestone has been criticised for his plan to get rid of the county's Oak Tree Protection ordinance, a historic 1998 compromise between agriculture and environmental interests.