(Buy Local)
By Rue Furch
As a former small business owner in Western Sonoma County, I am keenly aware that a crucial part of a Supervisor’s job is to preserve the health of our local economy. That means making sure the roads are in good shape, that taxes are fair, reasonable and well spent, and that local businesses have good representation in county government to help them survive and thrive.
Businesses help anchor the many villages that make up Sonoma County’s Fifth District. Without the grocery stores, restaurants, hardware stores, dentist offices, gas stations and real estate offices that serve surrounding residents, the villages would stagnate. Such businesses – together with our small farms, resorts, contractors and building-supply companies as well as our own wineries – give Western Sonoma County the local jobs, services and tourism dollars we need to have a sustainable economy.
Frequently overlooked among our local businesses are the non-profit agencies that provide jobs as well as essential services. In the present economic climate, these non-profits are going to play a crucial role in helping county government to provide the social services needed by our communities. I have three decades of volunteer and non-profit experience that I can call upon to help nurture these vital public/private partnerships as your supervisor.
Making sure tax dollars generated in our West County communities stay here was a major reason that Supervisor Mike Reilly shepherded creation of a redevelopment area for the lower Russian River area, with a community oversight committee to foster local control. As Supervisor, my job will be to make sure that redevelopment enhances the economic and environmental health of the communities it serves.
I won’t forget that small business owners in particular do not have the time to drive into Santa Rosa every time they need something from their Supervisor. When I am elected, I have promised to make myself available in each and every village and community throughout the District on a regular basis.
One of my objectives as Supervisor will be to make sure that business owners are doing everything they can to anchor themselves in the communities. That means helping them to understand the real economic needs of their customers, that they cater to locals as well as to visitors, that they sell what people will buy locally, rather than driving off to some “big-box” store. It means that small business owners need to become valued community resources. When, for example, a hardware store sponsors disaster preparedness efforts, it invites customers to view it as a trusted resource for emergency supplies.
Community-minded businesses have enabled local projects to take place without any public funding. The youth park in Forestville is a famous west county example. As Supervisor, I will help businesses to understand the opportunities they have to serve their communities, while continuing to make sure that local government does its part.
It’s a two-way street. Community-minded businesses enhance local communities. Community-minded customers understand the importance of buying locally and supporting local businesses. As your Supervisor, I will constantly be reinforcing all the roles of local businesses in making sure that the economies of all our villages are vibrant and strong.
