'Yep, I'd Be Happy To': Frelinghuysen Seemingly Agrees To Hold In-Person Town Hall

CHATHAM, NJ — Could Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen be holding his first in-person town hall in four years?

After watching a video taken by MorristownGreen at the White Meadow Lake Festival Weekend in Rockaway, it certainly looks like a possibility. In the clip, an activist can be seeing pressing Frelinghuysen on immigration, and asking him to hold a town hall. Frelinghuysen seemingly agrees to one, saying, "Yep, I’d be happy to."

A media representative for Frelinghuysen did not return Patch's request for comment confirming the town hall.

Frelinghuysen has not held a traditional town hall since 2013, instead favoring so-called teletown halls, which are conference call based question sessions. He has held five so far this year, including a rocky first call that was criticized for being unannounced. After pushback, advance announcements were made for the other four teletown halls.

• Read More: Frelinghuysen Holds Controversial 'Invitation-Only' Telephone Town Hall

Despite these teletown halls, activists have been pressing for conventional town halls from the 12th term congressman. Local activist group NJ 11th For Change has gone so far as to hold town halls without Frelinghuysen, using a cardboard cutout in his place.

• Read More: Frelinghuysen Criticized At Activist-Held Town Hall

Here's a transcript of the exchange between Frelinghuysen and activist Emily Kullmann of NJ 11th for Change, where he seemingly agrees to hold a traditional town hall:

• FRELINGHUYSEN: I’ve been coming here for 40 years, I’m aware of how important this community is—
• KULLMANN: It’s not only for rich people.
• FRELINGHUYSEN: [Unintelligible]
• KULLMANN: And we’d love for you to come to White Meadow Lake and do a town hall.
• FRELINGHUYSEN: Yep, I’d be happy to.
• KULLMANN: Here to speak with you as constituents—
• FRELINGHUYSEN: Good, good.
• KULLMANN: It’d really be a fabulous thing.
• FRELINGHUYSEN: I know you have some preconceived notions but I’m a pretty reasonable person.
• KULLMANN: Right, and we’d love to talk to you. Love to sit down and talk to you and tell you about how we’re feeling about what’s happening in Washington.

Frelinghuysen's comment was met with praise from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

“It is truly inspiring to see Representative Frelinghuysen’s change of heart on holding in-person town halls,” said DCCC Spokesman Evan Lukaske. “Now that Frelinghuysen has said he’d ‘be happy to’ hold an in-person town hall, we—along with his constituents—are eagerly awaiting his announcement of the time, date and location. Should he back out, his constituents won’t forget it on Election Day.”

Image: YouTube Screenshot