Politics & Government
Gottheimer's Camp 'Can't Confirm' If He'll Host Town Hall Meeting
The first-term Democratic congressman has met with constituents since taking office last month, but not in a traditional town hall meeting.
WYCKOFF, N.J. — It is unknown if Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) will meet with constituents in a town hall-style meeting anytime soon — the kind of meetings where angry constituents have blasted Republican legislators across the country, but he plans on continuing to have a dialogue with constituents.
While Gottheimer has not held traditional town hall style meetings since being sworn in last month, the father of two from Wyckoff has met with constituents twice at his Cup of Coffee with Josh and met with business owners in Mahwah Wednesday at a roundtable discussion. He has also opened constituent service centers in Glen Rock and Ringwood.
"I've gone out of my way to meet with constituents and find out what is on their minds," Gottheimer said. "I want to know what people need help with so I can govern the best way possible. The only way I'm going to know that is by speaking with them and I look forward to doing that any chance I get."
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Constituents have blasted Republican members of congress at such town hall meetings of late regarding the repeal of Obamacare and the Trump administration's travel ban.
In New Jersey's 11th Congressional District, 11th For Change, a grassroots organization, hosting a town hall meeting and invited Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen to attend. The longtime congressman declined, but held his own telephone town hall Wednesday, even posting about it on Twitter. Constituents have been asking for a meeting with him for sometime, but he always refuses, according to the group. The 11th District contains much of Morris County and portions of Essex, Passaic and Sussex counties.
Find out what's happening in Wyckofffor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Great questions and comments during my Telephone Town Hall meeting last night! Thousands of constituents on the line, I'm listening!
— Rodney Frelinghuysen (@USRepRodney) February 22, 2017
Frelinghuysen made no mention of the telephone town hall on his Facebook page, Twitter account or website. Apparently, it was an invitation-only event.
Senators Chuck Grassley (Iowa) and Mitch McConnell (Kentucky) and Rep. Scott Taylor (Virginia) have faced backlash from the public at such meetings, NPR reported. About 800 people gathered at Taylor's meeting, with another 200 waiting outside because they could not get inside.
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Rep. Josh Gottheimer — Official congressman photograph
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