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Local politicians have no concrete plan for town hall meetings in Athens

Town hall meetings have become a flash point in today's politically charged environment. Members of Congress, particularly Republicans, have held events met with protesters and frustrated constituents.

"I can see why they might be hesitant, with all the crazies," Pete Couladis, the Athens County Republican Party chairman, said. "The screaming and yelling and blocking the entrance, that's a political rally, not a meeting."

But a few local Ohio politicians have been holding town hall meetings and office hours for their constituents. State Sen. Frank Hoagland, R-Mingo Junction, has held several, including one in Nelsonville last month.

"The warm and civil reception we've experienced at our recent town halls across southeast Ohio is a stark contrast from the politically driven attacks from a few groups more interested in disruption than holding a dialogue," Hoagland said in a statement. 

His town halls are more aptly described as office hours. For a couple hours, Hoagland will drop by a library in one of the counties he represents and speak with anyone who comes in. He has held three so far, one in Athens County, and two others in Washington County and Monroe County.

"When people meet with him, a lot of times they have private matters to discuss, such as help navigating bureaucracy," Clark Siddle, spokesman for Republicans in the Ohio Senate, said. "It's an opportunity to discuss views in a civil way."

Hoagland has yet to visit the city of Athens as a senator and rarely did on the campaign trail. When asked if Hoagland would come to Athens, Siddle said he didn't see why Hoagland would not.

Athens' representative in the Ohio House, Jay Edwards, R-Nelsonville, said work on the state's budget has prevented him from holding town halls, although he did participate in a town hall on the state budget held in Meigs County last month.

"I am absolutely going to be doing some town halls," Edwards said. "But at the current state, I feel, and my team feels, that we would be doing (the constituents) a disservice of not being in Columbus fighting for the budget."

Edwards said that the House would be finished with budget around early April. After that, the budget will go on to the Senate, and Edwards said he would have more time to hold town halls.

He said the town hall in Meigs helped clear some misconceptions about the state budget.

"They're reading the proposed budget, and they're thinking that's what it is," Edwards said. "There seems to be a misconception that it's a done deal, but we told them that is not the case."

Couladis has not spoken to either Hoagland or Edwards about holding a town hall in Athens, but can understand why Republican politicians might feel apprehensive about coming here.

"We've got some weird people around here, and they're not interested in holding a town hall," he said. "If I were to do it, I would have people taking pictures and everything. You can turn it to your advantage by showing this and saying, 'This is what the Democrats have to offer ... this is the People's Republic of Athens with their swearing and signs.' "

@torrantial

lt688112@ohio.edu

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