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April 6, 2006
Thanks for Your Public Service, Senator Zamarripa
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Further, if the Democrats had a few more candidates like Sam they’d be winning a lot more elections than they have in recent years. If the Republicans had more candidates like Sam they wouldn’t look nearly as goofy as they sometimes do.
It is hard to be an elected official. You’re constantly second-guessed and pilloried in the press (and by know-it-all bloggers!). You’re answering to a wide variety of constituents, some of whom are of the "ready, shoot, aim" variety: they may have a loud voice, but they have no clue what they’re talking about.
Further, the treatment you get is much more serious. Sam has been targeted by blatantly racist organizations strictly because of his ethnicity and his position on issues related to the Hispanic community. He’s received emails and letters more vile than I can describe here—some threatening his family—yet through it all his easy going demeanor has shined through. He’s a better man than me.
Another point I’m also biased (and selfish) about: it’s our firm’s gain. I miss having my partner around when he gets locked up down at the Capitol funhouse for three months at the beginning of each year.
For those of us who believe the private sector is the primary driver of economic development in our state and the country at large, his decision is perfectly logical. It’s up to those of us in the business community in Georgia to create growth and opportunity in this state. Government cannot initiate it. Government can facilitate, and, of course, government can get in the way, but government cannot create lasting opportunities for growth.
Businesses and entrepreneurs can and do create growth opportunities and jobs in Georgia and the rest of the country every day. These enterprises move ahead, most often without government assistance and without the government being able to keep up with how fast they’re moving.
That’s the world Sam’s been in for about three-quarters of the year for the last four years, and now he’s been devoted to it for twelve months a year. We fund new companies and enable expansion for existing companies which creates jobs and increases the tax base for Georgia and other states as well.
Such a function is also "public service". Sure, it’s not the same "public service" that politicians and the press refer to, but helping create opportunity and growth for businesses everyday is indeed serving the public.
Welcome back from this session, Sam. For good. I'm looking forward to us doing some more public service together.
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Comments
I live in a state that's 500 miles from Georgia, and even I can sense that Georgians just suffered a pretty significant loss.
But, as J Ray says, the rest of Heritage-nation will benefit from your presence and dedication to the causes of business drivers and investors. Not a bad quid pro quo for those of us in the purely private sector.
Welcome back to the full-time fray, Sam. And, thank you for having served your fellow citizens with such grace, dignity, aplomb, and of course, competence.
Hope to see you soon.
Dave Slavik
Posted by: dave slavik at April 7, 2006 8:53 AM
Dave: Thanks for your kind comments and I'll make sure that Sam sees them.
JR
Posted by: John at April 7, 2006 8:36 PM
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