Steve Poizner for Governor – NOT!

I think a candidate for governor, especially in this state, needs to have a strong backbone, and possessed of the ability not to turn tail when they think they have done something to incur someone displeasure.  Several years ago I had the opportunity to speak with Poizner on several occasions about the issue of Workers Compensation reform, he was after all the Insurance Commissioner, and it seemed to me that Workers Compensation Insurance was under his department, or at least under his purview; and as someone who was currently going through the labyrinth that is our state’s Workers Compensation system I thought it appropriate to share with him my personal experiences and frustrations.

I gave him a brief synopsis of the problem and he asked that I forward to him a letter providing greater details and he’d have someone from his staff see how his department could aid me in getting answers to my questions and perhaps assistance in resolving some outstanding issues; nothing special but using our government resources as they are meant to when a citizen encounters roadblocks when navigating the “government services” that are meant to help, but all too often impede us.  Weeks passed and then months and still no one from his office responded to my citizen’s request for assistance.  Later I’d meet Poizner at another event and I mentioned to him how my letter had remained unanswered.  He expressed concern and asked me to resend my correspondence and assured me that someone would respond.  And true to his word a response followed in the form of a “form letter” that was non-responsive to my query and concerns; but that wasn’t all because this form letter also explained that Workers Compensation Insurance was not in the purview of the Department of Insurance – silly me and here I thought that our Department of Insurance had some influence over all things insurance.  Needless to say I shared this with Poizner at the next event that we both attended, and also in my “take no prisoner style” that I’ve become famous for, told him quite bluntly that I was surprised that Workers Compensation wasn’t under his purview and that I truly thought his department, and he personally might want to do some additional work on Workers Compensation reform; and that his excuse left me greatly disappointed.

Since that day, Poizner has done his best to avoid me.  Whenever we’re attending the same meeting he makes sure to cut a wide swath from where I’m at just to make sure he doesn’t have to make eye contact or say hello.  At two recent meetings, one of which was a candidate forum he still couldn’t meet my gaze, leaving me to conclude that he may lack the “intestinal fortitude” to be an effective governor.  Why?  You may ask.  Well ask yourself this if he can hardly stand to make eye contact with a little old lady from Pasadena who has to use crutches or an electric scooter to move around just because he felt his answer displeased or disappointed her; than how can he stand up to our fractious, recalcitrant, often hostile State Legislature.  We’re already constrained by a governor so concerned with being liked that he almost always wilts when the legislature pushes back, and I don’t think we need another milk toast in our Governor’s Office.