LaHood criticized for dodging constituents questions

JACKSONVILLE -- U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, met Thursday with approximately 100 members of the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce -- a private meeting scheduled since late 2016 that didn't sit well with residents who wanted him to answer questions in an open, town hall meeting-type setting.

The result was a protest by approximately 50 people who carried signs and shouted slogans along the city's main east-west thoroughfare, a parking lot away from the invitation-only Chamber meeting.

"The only thing I can figure is the congressman is either afraid to have one or he's afraid to be discomfited by the fact that we might ask him some questions," said Jacksonville resident Ed Preston, one of the protesters. "Or he just doesn't care about his constituents very much other than those he thinks agree with him."

Preston said he's tried to schedule a public meeting through LaHood's Jacksonville district office but has been unsuccessful. But LaHood encouraged constituents who want to schedule such an event to keep trying.

Read more: http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170223/lahood-criticized-for-dodging-constituents-questions