Group plans 'in-abstentia' meeting in Wittman's district

A group calling itself Democracy Circle RVA is planning what it has termed an “in-absentia" town hall meeting April 26 in Virginia's First Congressional District, which includes Henrico's western half.

The meeting will take place at 10:30 a.m. April 26 at the Twin Hickory Area Library, 5001 Twin Hickory Road in Glen Allen. The group is planning the meeting as a way to engage district residents and provide them a forum to "voice their concerns and aspirations regarding national leadership and representation,” its organizers said in a press release. The meeting will be recorded and shared with Wittman's office, organizers said.

Some residents of the district have expressed frustration that Wittman himself has not hosted a town hall meeting recently. His office hosted a two-hour “mobile office hours” event in February that attracted almost 200 people, with a staffer standing in for Wittman, who was in Washington, D.C. attending committee meeting and voting sessions.

It also has held regularly scheduled telephone town hall meetings, the most recent of which took place March 26 and is available online; constituents also can sign up for future events online.

Democracy Circle RVA organizers said they have invited Wittman to the April 26 event but don't expect him to attend.

“This event is about accountability and engagement,” organizers said. “Even if our representative isn't in the room, we believe our concerns deserve to be.”
 
Registration for the meeting is available online.