Representative Elise Stefanik’s lack of accessibility, noted by constituents as well as regional journalists (9/20/18 NCPR report), is nothing new; indeed this reputation is well-deserved.

During the election of 2016, three local groups (North Country 350 Alliance, the League of Women Voters (LWV), and the Canton UU Church’s Social Action Committee) felt there should be a Canton-Potsdam area debate among Congressional District 21 candidates. The three candidates running, incumbent Rep. Stefanik (R), and both the Democratic and Green candidates, were invited to Canton for a three-way debate, the only kind the LWV would hold.

Respecting the congresswoman’s schedule, her office was first contacted well ahead of the election, in fact, in June for a fall date. A seemingly polite and positive response from the office indicated someone would return the call the following week.

Since no return call came, a follow-up contact was made and another return call was promised shortly, yet none materialized. This became the pattern, repeated again and again across the summer, until finally in October, less than one month from the election, the message came that unfortunately the congresswoman’s October schedule was full, but she wished the other two candidates well in a debate that could not happen without her.

We note the congresswoman continues this tendency to avoid debates with her recent refusal (with no explanation) for an Adirondack Daily Enterprise sponsored debate.

A similar experience occurred in 2017, when hundreds of thousands of people across the nation, in an effort to support science and the environment, were preparing for the April, 2017 Scientists’ March followed by the People’s Climate Mobilization, both in Washington, DC and elsewhere.

Here in Rep. Stefanik’s District 21, it was decided having a strong local presence would have more impact than going to Washington. Five events occurred across the district in Glens Falls, Watertown, Plattsburgh, Potsdam, and Fine, drawing a combined total of over 1800 of Stefanik’s constituents, many of whom wished to send her a strong message about environmental protections.

Afterward, Stefanik’s office was contacted by leaders of these events who felt representing over 1800 of her constituents warranted a meeting with her. While numerous outreaches were made, a meeting never occurred, something that was never even acknowledged by her staff.

Such inaccessibility with constituents as well as the press is an affront to democracy. It’s time for change.

Ginger Storey-Welch, Colton

Pat Alden, Canton

Nolan Fedorow, Clifton

Lisa Adamson, Queensbury

Mary-Alice Shemo, Plattsburgh

Kari Robertson, formerly Town of Rutland