Minnesotans protest, demand Hagedorn “be more transparent and meet with more of his constituents.”
Well that didn’t take long.
Just a few weeks after holding the first of his promised 21-stop town hall tour, Congressman Jim Hagedorn is already trying to renege on his commitment to southern Minnesotans, deciding to hold a tele-town hall in the middle of a work day with barely any prior notice given to hopeful participants.
Hagedorn’s constituents aren’t letting him get away that easy, though. As the Free Press of Mankato reported, dozens of people showed up at the Congressman’s office yesterday to demand that he “be more transparent and meet with more of his constituents.”
From The Free Press of Mankato: Critics call on Hagedorn to host more town halls
Though U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn has promised at least 21 town halls across the 21 counties that make up his southern Minnesota congressional district, critics say the Blue Earth Republican needs to be more transparent and meet with more of his constituents.
Area organizers with the liberal-leaning group Indivisible of St. Peter/Greater Mankato brought that message to Hagedorn’s Mankato office Tuesday as more than 30 people showed up for a peaceful demonstration and discussion with the 1st District congressman’s staff.
“I feel that he’s not listening to those of us who have a voice as constituents of his congressional district,” Kyle Good of Mankato said.
…Good, along with his wife, Anna, and their children, said they were motivated to attend after Hagedorn held a tele-town hall for Nicollet County residents Thursday afternoon that wasn’t publicized in advance.
…Several demonstrators said Tuesday they weren’t against the idea of tele-town halls, but they were concerned Hagedorn didn’t let the public know about the call. Some described seeing an unknown number calling their phone at about 1:30 p.m. and ignoring the call, while others said they weren’t able to participate because they were working at the time.
“I was in the middle of my work day,” Andie Kukacka said. “I got the call and I was really confused. The only reason I knew it was a town hall was because I got in touch with the Indivisible group.”
Others described issues calling into the tele-town hall, and at least one person was told the tele-town hall was for Nicollet County residents only, though Hagedorn confirmed some residents in nearby counties were called and participated.
…”That is not the nature of what an elected representative is,” said Rachel Maccabee of St. Peter. “An elected representative is to listen and go represent the people.”
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