To the editor:

As a constituent in the 21st Congressional District, I would like to congratulate Rep. Stefanik for speaking out against the executive order on Immigration at a time when most of her Republican colleagues chose to remain silent.

However, like many others in her district, I am increasingly concerned over actions of the Trump administration and legislation passing through the House. I have repeatedly called her offices in Glens Falls and D.C. over Rep. Stefanik’s voting record on several topics and attempted to ask for clarification of her positions (including those on health care, protecting the environment, gun safety and the Johnson Amendment). The answers are vague and non-committal. In one particularly eyebrow-raising exchange, one of her staffers said he did not know if Rep. Stefanik supported the idea of separation of church and state.

I have also made multiple inquires as to when she would be holding an actual face-to-face town hall meeting in the district, to no avail. Her staffers say they either are unaware of her schedule or that she intends to hold one but have no further information as to when or where.

District work periods are intended for members of Congress to meet with constituents. A search of social media will tell you that my voice is only one of many who would like her to host a town hall meeting (not simply hold telecons where people are able to phone in with questions, listen to her reply and then have no opportunity to ask follow-up questions).

Town halls offer a more personal way for a congressperson to connect with a larger audience of constituents about the issues that concern them and discuss their stances. There is a growing sense that Congresswoman Stefanik is avoiding this connection with her constituents, and this is met with a growing concern of her accountability to the district that elected her.

Sincerely,

Eva Lau

Wilton