Congressman Hultgren Holding a Town Hall on August 16th

(Photo above is a section of the flyer I received in mail on August 1st. Note that it gives web address for Congressman Hultgren where you must register to attend this town hall.)

Was initially pleased to see that Congressman Hultgren was actually coming to Plainfield, but disappointment followed quickly on the heels of pleasure when I saw that this town hall is being held at our Plainfield Fire Protection District at 12 noon on a Thursday that also happens to be the first day of school for Plainfield D202 students. The cherry on the top is that citizens must register to attend. That's quite the string of negatives.

The location is good and not the problem if, as I assume, this means the largest PFPD facility, with large meeting space, on the north side of 135th Street, just east of Rt. 59. Hultgren's flyer isn't making that perfectly clear.

To be further blunt about my feelings on this, I think it's lousy that other parts of Congressman Hultgren's district are getting TWO town halls in a day, at noon and at 7p, and the only other location to get just one town hall is getting that one at 7p. You know, when more of the public might actually be home from where they spend Thursdays earning the tax money that pays for things like the congressman's salary. If you aren't at work that day, you might be a little caught up in the back to school hubbub, which will probably mean you can't go to this town hall, either.

The last time the congressman turned up at the same location it was also at about 1p, as I recall, and I think that was on a Thursday, too. It was a couple of years ago. The few--as in about six--of us constituents who could make it were outnumbered by the other local politicians and Hultgren and staff. And, for some no doubt stupid reason, we were stuffed into an inadequate little conference room, when other more comfortable space was open and even offered up by Chief Riddle.

It seems to me that, even with less than 100 days to go until the race in which he's up against the pretty appealing Lauren Underwood, Congressman Hultgren really doesn't want to see anyone in Plainfield, perhaps with the exceptions of his Plainfield and Wheatland Township Republican Organizations friends. I'm sure there will be some swell little political clustering, or a fundraiser for someone in that 24 or so hours.

I hope many of us can make it to this. It's a rare chance to actually see this guy in something other than a photo! Go to www.hultgren.house.gov/events and register. As the flyer says: "Registration is first come, first served, so sign up early!" (What's he doing? Serving in Congress or giving away Popsicles!?)