My mother had what seemed like a small problem. She no longer drove, so she only had her expired license from another state. She lived in an assisted-living facility, so why would it matter? Well, just try to get a doctor’s appointment without identification.
We attempted to pull together the documentation required by the state DMV, but after vigorous research that included diving into and paying for online court records from various states and even going to the local courthouse in person, we were unable to satisfy the DMV requirements.
Frustrated by the red tape, bureaucracy and DMV’s unwillingness to make an exception, I reached out to Sen. Russ Huxtable by email and asked if he could intervene or offer any other solutions. I received an immediate response from his office (and it was not an auto-reply). I felt my frustration dissipate as I knew that if anyone could help cut through the red tape, he could.
It was only a matter of a few days when I heard from Russ again, this time giving me contact info for the DMV manager, who was expecting my call. When I pushed mom’s wheelchair through the doors of the DMV on the appointed day and time, the front desk clerks immediately knew who she was as they welcomed her and made her feel like a VIP!
We couldn’t have done this without Russ’ intervention. His willingness to help resolve a seemingly small problem that had huge repercussions for my mother speaks volumes about the type of person Russ is. He is an advocate for the people he represents, and he has my vote any day!
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