Dentistry.com CEO Wissot looking for seat in California State Assembly

July 15, 2002
Dentistry.com chief executive officer Michael Wissot plans to elevate the voices of dental professionals in California this fall.

The dental community has experienced favorable growth throughout California in recent years. Yet, despite a surging clientele in dental offices, the industry received a limited degree of political representation in the Golden State. Dentistry.com chief executive officer Michael Wissot plans to elevate the voices of dental professionals this fall.

Wissot is running for California State Assembly in District 41, which includes Los Angeles and Ventura County. Offering a message of pragmatism and inclusion, Wissot has rallied the dental community to seek more ownership of legislative initiatives that concern practitioners statewide.

"California has a very active and persuasive legislative body, especially on health care issues," Wissot said. "We need to ensure that certain special interests groups do not adversely affect dentists' ability to provide quality care to their patients."

Wissot, a former aide to Senator John McCain (R-AZ), cited several instances in which the California state legislature created complicated policies that intrude on the doctor-patient relationship ? including a recent law that requires dentists to have patients sign a lengthy waiver form before receiving amalgam fillings.

"There are lobbyists in Sacramento that apply scare tactics on politicians and their constituents, basically responding reactively to gross misconceptions about certain dental procedures," Wissot added. "All they're doing is creating more red tape and bureaucracy that provide little added value to the general public."

Creating more awareness on dental-related issues in Sacramento is a primary concern for Wissot, who has been committed to making the Internet a viable medium for dentists and patients to communicate more effectively.

"It's unfortunate when politicians who know very little about the dental industry make short-term policy decisions without consideration of the long-term ramifications."

Besides rallying in favor of dental issues, Wissot also vows to create effective policies concerning education, reducing traffic congestion, increasing public safety, and strengthening California's economy.

Wissot has received an overwhelming amount of support from individual dentists and hygienists, who have been actively distributing information to their patients about Wissot's campaign. With a strong backing by the dental community, Wissot continues to spread his vision of a safer, cleaner, and more effective form of governing.

For more information on Michael Wissot bid for California State Assembly, please visit his campaign website at www.wissot.com or by phone at 818-674-9071.