Thank you for the wonderful article on Tommy Gong (“Former SLO County Clerk-Recorder Tommy Gong testifies to Congress about a lack of resources and combatting local Republicans’ voter fraud claims,” Dec. 1). It was a great pleasure to read your article about him! I was sad when he left the County Clerk-Recorder position and thrilled with how he has made a wonderful beginning in Contra Costa County. He was an amazing manager, personable, knowledgeable, and willing to take time to answer my questions.
I was able to know him via my volunteer work recording death records for the SLO County Genealogical Society. We frequently had out-of-town/state inquiries about dates of death from members of the public, many of whom were tracing their family history.
I was horrified at the rude and ignorant people who challenged his actions at the Board of Supervisors in May of 2021. How insulting and demeaning to ask questions about auditing elections and his political affiliations.
The photo of him in New Times shows the happy person I came to know and enjoy talking with. I’m excited that he’s found a positive experience in his new position. SLO County will miss him.
Susan Crosson
Arroyo Grande
This article appears in Dec 15-25, 2022.
Susan – Your comments are spot on. Most of us here in SLO County were appreciative of Tommy’s efforts and knew him to be honest, hard-working and transparent during a time when no one wanted his position. It took a small group of angry sore-losing racially insensitive idiots to run him off. We all know what was behind it, why it was done, and which former President instigated this kind of action. I only hope we find a way to be supportive of Elaina Cano to show her we’ve moved past the ugliness portrayed at the Board of Supervisors meeting in May of 2021. We now have a few new Board members that I expect will make a positive difference moving forward.
Brent – I note that the current current Clerk Recorder, Elaina Cano, who appears to be doing a good job, was appointed by the OLD Board of Supervisors, over the objections of some Democratic partisans who were demanding the appointment of their preferred candidate. They charged that the old board was attempting to appoint some politically compliant figure to obtain advantage, so I am pleased to see Democrats now being supportive of Ms. Cano’s appointment.