To the editor:
Rep. Jason Smith may be effective in representing the special interest groups that accounted for more than three-quarters of the 1.3 million in contributions to his campaign in 2017 (VoteSmart.org). But he doesn’t pay attention to ordinary constituents because he is confident that Republicans will vote for him, regardless.
A month ago, the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce sent Smith an invitation to participate in a public meeting Oct. 16 with his challengers, Kathy Ellis and Jonathan Shell. As of four days before the planned event, he still had not replied.
Anecdotal reports from people who have interacted with the congressman support the impression that he ignores anyone who is not politically useful. For example, Smith was sent a letter asking the number of constituents he met during the congressional recess, how many public meeting he has held since his re-election and whether he would be willing to participate in a public forum with his challengers. He never responded.
The same questions were then asked to Smith’s Washington staff. Again, there was no response. In the last two days, his office has been called a total of nine times during working hours in an effort to speak to Smith’s scheduler. Staffers reported he was in the office but not at his desk. This is possible, but it suggests deliberate evasion.
Send a representative to Washington who is committed to working for us. Kathy Ellis has spent her career helping people as a certified clinical social worker and addiction counselor. She knows how to listen. She is also a business owner.
Ellis wants to make healthcare available to all, increase opportunity through debt-free public education, address climate change, reduce income inequality, and advocate for family farms.
Learn more at www.ellisformissouri.com. When Ellis says she will be a “servant/leader” in Congress, you can believe it. It comes naturally to her and her life proves it.
Dan Leary, Moody