Sutherland a community advocate

To the editor:
    Last week I had the pleasure to work with Rep. Patricia Sutherland on an issue facing our Main Street Mobil on the Run store in Presque Isle.
    We were contacted by the Maine Department of Transportation and told our permit applications for a similar convenience store in Augusta, as well as projects in several other Maine communities, were going to be put on hold until we undertook significant and expensive changes to Main Street in Presque Isle. And we had less than a week to agree to their demands before the lack of permits in Augusta would scuttle the project.
    The changes being requested by MDOT were against the city of Presque Isle’s wishes. And we believed they were unnecessary as well. But without MDOT’s permits, we couldn’t move forward in our plans for business growth in Maine.
    Because of her past support on other issues, I mentioned our problem to Rep Sutherland. She said, “I think I can help.” And she did. She vigorously attacked our problem, working out the nuances between the city of Presque Isle’s wishes, our needs, and the request of MDOT. She even called the Governor’s office to request Gov. Baldacci’s support in helping us clear the hurdles that were going to limit our Maine-owned, Maine-based company from continuing to invest in the economy of Maine. Rep. Sutherland immediately understood our predicament and worked diligently to protect our long-term growth strategy.
    Pat Sutherland was a great help last week. Her involvement meant a reversal in MDOT’s demands before our Augusta deadline passed. And because of her understanding and commitment to business development and expansion, we are able to move forward with our growth strategy across Maine this year and next.
    You have a great advocate for your community and for Maine business in Rep. Sutherland. If I lived in District 7, I’d be voting for Pat. She is the type of leader this state needs in Augusta.
Robert Tracy,
executive vice president
RH Foster Energy