Gorin supports ‘the little guy’

What do local politics mean for the little guy?  I’ll tell you what it means to me.  I’m not a political person and don’t really follow the political scene.  I think of myself as a regular person, going about their busy life and doing the best they can.  I depend on the people we elect and the system to take care of what needs taking care of.  I’ll refer to myself as the little guy—probably like a lot of you reading this letter.

I have been hearing a lot about the local supervisor race and feel compelled to share my story.   It’s about the little guy.  It’s about how Susan Gorin and her office went above and beyond for me and my business Republic of Thrift.   When Susan Gorin was able to secure funds for the Highway 12 improvement project, I was pretty aggressive with her and her office.  I hammered them with questions all of the time about the bridge work, crosswalks, my parking lot, public parking, etc.   I still do.  They are always polite and professional, always answering my questions and helping me understand the process.  When PG&E came along and shut down my business for 6 weeks for gas line relocation, Susan Gorin was there for me.  She and her staff helped us navigate the process and fought for us.  When PG&E tried to renege on their compensation agreement, Susan Gorin met with them personally and demanded that they honor their deal.   This enabled me to keep five employees on payroll—good local people that would have been laid off.  This enabled me to keep my nonprofit thrift store afloat.  This enabled me to still pay out donations to the 11 public schools that we support.  I would have been put out of business without her help.  That matters.  It matters to our local economy, it matters to the public schools and it matters to me.

 Susan Gorin listened, acted and fought for me.  I have no political clout.  I’m not involved.  I’m not making campaign donations or throwing fancy parties.  Instead, it’s about very practical and regular life stuff.  I KNOW Supervisor Gorin.  She or her staff attend monthly Springs business meetings with me.   I can call and email her directly and she personally replies.  I can contact her staff by cell or email and they reply immediately.   I have never had that experience with anyone in politics before.  That means something to me…the little guy.

Jeannette Tomany

Sonoma