Congressman Hultgren, IL 14th District, Holding Open Q&A Tuesday, April 18th

After not meeting openly with constituents for far too long, Rep. Hultgren is having a question and answer session this Tuesday, the 18th of April, from 7p to 8:30p at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles (south side of Main/Rt. 64, just a block east of the Fox River in downtown St. Chuck--little map clip above).

The last time I got a look up close at my congressman it was the day of a local Republican fundraiser, when he came to one of the smallest conference rooms you can picture at our Plainfield Fire Protection District, either one or two years ago, on a weekday at 1p! Nothing said "I'll see you if I have to, but I'd rather not" like setting times and places that are so inconvenient for working people and students, etc.

About six "civilians" showed up and the room only seated about 10-12, despite the PFPD having some other nice roomy meeting space to use (if you were willing to see more than a half dozen people, besides your staff and local pols, but that's the point). The staffer for Rep. Hultgren had to stand, as did some of his political friends whom I'm guessing took time off of work to be there--Village Board Pres. Collins and Administrator Murphy were there, as were Trustees Bonuchi and Racich. Plus Roger Bonuchi and then-candidate for Will County Auditor Gary Good, etc.

I felt like this was a non-serious meeting that Hultgren tossed into the schedule last minute so he could add it to lists like the below from his email about this, the "see, I DO try to meet the people!" list. I think he was there for the fundraiser a few hours later, maybe to do a bit of a private meeting with VBP Collins and Mr. Murphy (and, nothing wrong with that kind of meeting, to be clear), and needed a little frosting on that cupcake to make it appealing to the average voter. "I was IN Plainfield and I DID give the people an opportunity to talk with me."

But, that meeting was not well publicized, didn't really have structure, etc. In other words, it wasn't a serious meeting with constituents and the "important" part of his hours in Plainfield probably kicked in later.

Maybe this Q & A with the League of Women Voters will be more helpful to constituents and through us to the congressman, too? If enough people head on up to the Arcada on Tuesday night, that will help toward that goal.

Please consider going, ready to speak your mind and ask your questions, as cordially and politely, but directly, as you can.

The below is cut and paste from an email from Congressman Hultgren's office sent about 10:30a today. You can sign up to get emails like this by going to his website, and that will help you to get whatever advance notice there is of such events:

I will be joining a public question-and-answer session hosted by the League of Women Voters at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles on Tuesday, April 18. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the event begins at 7:00 p.m.

I enjoy engaging with constituents to tackle the key issues and challenges of our communities and nation. Many have enjoyed and benefitted [sic] from a variety of formats of engagement, including my Coffees with the Congressman, constituent 1-1 meetings, Congressional Conference Calls, Community Leadership Forums and on-site meetings with local small businesses, hospitals, churches, municipalities, county governments, schools, non-profit organizations and more.

I appreciate this invitation from the League of Women Voters and look forward to joining this question-and-answer session to again hear from constituents who live in the 14th District on the issues that are on their minds, and to let them know how I’m working for them in Congress.

WHAT: League of Women Voters 14th Congressional District Q and A

WHO: Congressman Randy Hultgren (IL-14)

WITH:

League of Women Voters of Central Kane County

League of Women Voters DeKalb Area MAL Unit

League of Women Voters Elgin Area

League of Women Voters McHenry County

League of Women Voters Naperville

WHEN: Tuesday, April 18, 2017 -- Doors open 6:30 p.m. -- Q & A from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main Street, St. Charles, IL 60174