Editor,
In the week during the inauguration of the most recent U.S. president, a great number of Americans have contacted their elected representatives to let them know their views on proposed cabinet members, executive orders and other policy matters. I have been one of them.
In the case of our congressman, Dana Rohrabacher, I got the impression that contact with his constituency is not one of his priorities. At least, I could not find public events for the year 2017 that would allow the man to communicate with his constituency. (Sad, just sad, as our current president would put it.)
I understand that Rohrabacher offers one-one-one meetings. However, such meetings are a) difficult to schedule with someone who is off to D.C. most of the time and b) do not replace the dialogue with the community of his constituents (which, I believe, is a fundamental to what American democracy was supposed to be).
I hereby call on the congressman to hold a series of town hall meetings so that we, the folks from his district, can engage with him directly. I assume that I am not the only one, who has a stake in having her voice heard.
By the way, here are the phone numbers for his Huntington Beach office (714) 960-6483 and for his Washington office (202) 225-2415.
Annette Schlichter, Laguna Beach
Thank you to guest contributor. I agree. I would just like to know what your concerns are?
I, too, contacted DR’s office and finally spoke to Alexander Gonzalez, his scheduler, who told me that the office does not publicly announce his appearances, even if they are in an official capacity, that the functions he does attend are announced by the group putting on the function, and that even if the congressman has official appearances, they are not advertised.
Jan 24 I called Dana’s HB office to see when he’d be local for a meeting or something. I spoke with Kathleen Stanton at Dana Rohrabacher’s office. I called asking how I find out the next opportunity Dana will be in town speaking with his constituents. I said I would like to speak with him about some concerns in person. She got a bit agitated and told me that people have been descending on the office, flooding them with calls, letters they haven’t gotten to yet and it’s all been very, very disruptive. She was very agitated.
I said a few of us would like to speak with Dana and she said he doesn’t meet with groups. So I again ask, okay well when is his next local town hall or event where he meets with constituents? She said they used to do meetings but there were too many dissenters, too much shouting so THEY STOPPED DOING THEM!! Can you believe that? They just don’t do it anymore. She said that they do occasional teleconferences where you can call in but she had no idea when they might do the next one. So I told her, as a constituent if he doesn’t do town halls, has no teleconferences on the schedule, how do I get to speak with him. She said I could email meeting request guy at the HB office Alex Gonzalez and ask for an appointment one on one or two people max. They need to know address, name, concern as she said they vet for security. Scheduling coordinator’s address is [email protected]
So I asked her again, because I was still in disbelief, are you really telling me Dana does not hold public meetings in his district to speak with constituents? She said there is a voting process and if you don’t like him, you have the right to vote. I said, even if I didn’t vote for him, he still represents me and I should have the opportunity to be heard. Then she said that I have to understand for every person like me that doesn’t like his policies, there’s more that do and again, if we don’t like it we should vote him out.
Some of us tried, but he obviously benefitted from his status as the current representative. Hard to believe someone who espoused Trump fairly early was so well liked, but his opponent couldn’t overcome his incumbency. He is a sad example of a non-representative.
I don’t understand why it is so difficult to get an appointment with our elected official. I have been told the same sorry by Mr. Rohrabacher’s HB staff, and I simply could not believe what I was hearing. How is he suppose to represent his constituents if you can’t talk to him? Mr. Rohrabacher himself has stated many times that he makes lot of local appearances, but if no one is told where he is to appear, how can we hear what he has to say? Press releases are not the same a having the opportunity to ask questions and share one’s opinion and how it will effect them.
[…] joins ranks still seething with post-election bitterness because their candidate lost (“Let Rohrabacher Know Your Stand” Letters, Feb. 3 edition). By mocking the president elected under our Constitution, she […]