Businesses in downtown Brentwood took advantage of Small Business Saturday to let a State Assembly hopeful know what was on their minds.

Oakley Mayor and Assembly candidate Jim Frazier spent Nov. 26 listening to ideas to help local small businesses survive in these tough economic times.

“I asked one important question to the small business owners I met and talked with: what can the state do to help you stay alive through this recession?” said Frazier, an independent contractor and a small business owner himself.

Frazier visited a dozen or more businesses on Saturday, including Cre’me dela Gem Jewelry, MJ’s Café & Bakery, Delta Barber Shop, Catwalk Boutique, Gursky Ranch, Sunflower Antiques, Oak Street Boutique, TLCakes and others.

“I heard a lot of legitimate concerns, ranging from over-regulation to the unavailability of small business loans to the need for more foot traffic downtown,” Frazier said. “The business owners I talked with were hardworking, very determined individuals who are just looking for a little support to stay afloat through the hard times.”

Frazier said that if he’s fortunate enough to earn the support of voters to go to the State Assembly, he’d like to become local small business owners’ biggest advocate in Sacramento.

“Small businesses are the cornerstone of America, and they suffer the most in an economic recession,” said Frazier. “We need to put our strongest minds and our best ideas together to help small businesses survive.”