'Empty Chair' Town Hall For Dave Reichert Planned This Week

BONNEY LAKE, WA - Local left-leaning activist groups are continuing to criticize U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert over the issue of holding in-person town halls, and will hold an "empty chair" meeting for him on Wednesday. Local groups organized under the "Indivisible" movement have been haranguing Reichert for months, trying to get him to hold a town hall-style meeting. Reichert has met with activists in private, and held a Q&A on Facebook, but has yet to hold a traditional town hall meeting.

This is the second "empty chair" town hall set up by progressive activists. The first, held in Cashmere in February, attracted about 400 people. At the time, activists were trying to call attention to the Obamacare repeal and replace effort. But this meeting will cover a number of topics, according to organizers, including "Russian interference with the 2016 US election and the Trump campaign, healthcare legislation, conflicts of interest and emoluments, and other executive actions detrimental to democratic values, such as the travel bans, removal of environmental protections, movement toward dismantling public education, and continued separation of church and state. "

Reichert has avoided public town hall meetings for a variety of reasons. He has said that the meetings are too unruly to get anything accomplished, and has expressed concern for the safety of his staff.

Reichert spokeswoman Breanna Deutsch highlighted that Reichert has scores of meetings set up over the current two-week Congressional recess.

"The Congressman has nearly 50 meetings and events scheduled over this two-week period and will meet with well over 200 constituents," she said. "Congressman Reichert believes this is the best way to maintain open communication with his constituents and have productive conversations. He has consistently encouraged anyone who would like to meet with him to contact our office."

This week's "empty chair" town hall will take place in Covington at Cedar Heights Middle School, 9640 272nd Street, on Wednesday beginning at 6:30 p.m.

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