The stage is set for a long-awaited meeting tonight between Congressman Tom Garrett and his constituents. As Sandy Hausman reports, those who can’t get into a forum at the University of Virginia will be gathering outside.
Residents of the fifth congressional district have been asking for access to their newly-elected representative since November, many hoping to persuade their conservative congressman that he needs to consider those voters who don’t share his views. While other house members held town hall meetings, Garrett did not, and when he finally scheduled a public event, seating was limited to fewer than 230 people. At Indivisible Charlottesville, spokesman David Singerman says tickets to the event were distributed through a limited lottery.
“It opened on Tuesday, and it closed on Thursday, so it was only about 48 hours," Singerman says. "It had to be done online. The tickets had to be picked up in person this week between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m., which poses all sorts of problems as you can imagine.”
Those who were not able to get tickets are invited to a community gathering on campus – a place where various interest groups can connect with people who want to get involved.
“Everybody from the Sierra Club to the Jefferson area Tea Party will have tables," Singerman explains. "Then at 6 o’clock there’s going to be a rally and event at the amphitheater at UVA with lots of speakers from UVA and community groups."
Garrett also plans a meeting in May in the southern part of his district, which stretches from the North Carolina border to a point near the Maryland line. It’s Virginia’s largest district, more than 10,000 square miles, making it bigger than the state of New Jersey and the state of Vermont.