Lance is N.J.'s only GOP Congressman to hold town hall meetings
Mike Deak
@MikeDeakMyCJ
BRANCHBURG - Unlike his fellow Republicans in the New Jersey Congressional delegation, Rep. Leonard Lance (R-District 7) will be conducting town hall meetings this week during the Presidents Day recess.
"I think it's important to communicate with constituents and to have constituents communicate with me," Lance said. "I hope the level of discussion will be conducted with civility and I know I will conduct myself with civility.… I do not want any constituent shouted down and I do not wish to be shouted down."
The first town hall will be conducted 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday while the second will be 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Both will be in the Edward Nash Theater on the campus of Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg.
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The response to Lance's announcement of the first town hall meeting was so overwhelming that he was prompted to schedule the second meeting.
The 900-seat theater is expected to be filled and there will be room for the overflow audience in the college's conference center meeting rooms.
Opposition groups have also scheduled rallies on the campus before the town hall meetings.
The town hall meetings will also livestreamed at http://live.njvid.net/rvcc.
Lance said he's had about 10 town halls a year during his eight years in Congress. Half have been in person and half over the telephone, a process that gives his office more control over which questions to take and what listeners hear. Lance's district stretches across Central Jersey, from the Delaware River to Union County, and includes parts of Morris County. He is a Hunterdon County resident.
The demand for town hall meetings across the United States has increased since the Trump Administration took office a month ago. A grassroots effort by Progressives has driven the call for GOP Congressmen back home for the recess to hold the meetings and answer questions on their positions on issues such as healthcare reform and immigration.
Staff Writer Mike Deak: 908-243-6607; mdeak@mycentraljersey.com