Democrats Discuss: Congressman Stivers, we're your constituents too

Each year, members of Congress designate one week in February to return home to their district to meet with constituents to listen to their questions and concerns. The most effective way of doing this is by holding public town hall events throughout the district. Town halls give constituents the opportunity to gather and have an open discussion with their elected officials.

U.S. Representative Steve Stivers, R-15, resides in the affluent Columbus suburb of Upper Arlington. His three district offices are in Lancaster, Hilliard and Wilmington. For his Athens constituents, Lancaster is the closest office, but it is still more than 45 minutes away by car, something many students don’t have on campus.

This month, Stivers will be home the 20th through 24th to meet with his constituents. Instead of holding public town halls in various cities throughout his district, he’s only having individual, 20-minute meetings with constituents who can transport themselves to his Hilliard office, an hour and a half drive from Athens.

These meetings can be scheduled by calling one of Stivers’ offices and requesting a time slot to meet with the congressman. The meetings, of course, take place during normal business hours on weekdays, a likely conflict with the school and work schedules of many constituents. For Ohio University students who take classes, work and/or don’t have a car, a meeting with Stivers is very impractical.

In a Facebook post, Stivers claimed that “teletown halls,” a phone call with the congressman with a group of people on the line, are “my favorite way to keep in touch with the people in the 15th District while I’m here in Washington,” in an attempt to excuse himself from meeting with constituents in person. Don’t be fooled by this, as his offices don’t publicize these phone calls before they happen, and it is not easy for everyone to make their voices heard on the call.

Would it really be too much to ask of Congressman Stivers to come down to Athens, or a nearby town, and hold a public town hall during convenient hours for students? You can contact his offices and demand he represents the interests of OU students and holds a town hall near Athens.

Alex is a freshman studying strategic communications at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Do you want Congressman Stivers to come to Athens? Let Alex know by tweeting him @alexjackson716.