A California Republican shuttered his congressional offices. Why it matters | Opinion

Our system of government is simple, from the school board trustee to the federal government. Voters within specific districts cast their votes for their desired candidate. The votes are tallied, and a winner is seated.

That person represents constituents and keeps a pulse on what issues the community deems important through mailed letters, telephone calls, or town halls.

That is why some Modesto area constituents have been frustrated since early February with the lack of visibility by Rep. Tom McClintock, R-El Dorado, at the same time the federal government, led by President Donald Trump, is raising pocketbook concerns among voters by instituting higher tariffs and threatening to cut government services such as Medicaid.

McClintock’s district office in Modesto has been closed since April 14. There is no notice on the door to explain why the office at 1020 15th St. is closed.

When Modesto Bee staff writer Kathleen Quinn went to McClintock’s office on April 14, she found the office locked. She reported that about 25 constituents had shown up to speak with McClintock or staff.

A telephone call by Gary Peichoto, a constituent, to McClintock’s Washington office went unanswered. He called the Modesto office and was forwarded to the El Dorado office. “The El Dorado people said they were having problems with staffing,” he told The Modesto Bee.

On Feb. 21, constituents showed up at the El Dorado office to ask why McClintock wasn’t more accessible. The congressman’s district chief of staff, Matt Reed, told them his boss will continue to host town halls over the phone.

McClintock then canceled office hours in Oakdale, Riverbank, Modesto and Mariposa.

“We are in the final phases of interviews to fill these vacancies and hope to have the (Modesto) office reopened in the next few weeks,” a McClintock staff member in Washington told The Fresno Bee. “In the meantime, incoming calls are being forwarded to the El Dorado Hills, and the Modesto office is open by appointment.”

We’ll give McClintock the benefit of the doubt on his staffing issues. And to his credit, McClintock has held tele-town halls in the past and is taking signups for future tele-town halls.

But the politics of the day have also played a role in McClintock’s offices going dark.

“In recent weeks, they have been disrupted by people wanting to protest Trump’s policies,” McClintock told The Turlock Journal. “When some of those encounters became heated, I agreed with our staff to suspend them until tempers cooled.”

Members of Congress or the people who work for them should never be abused or feel threatened by the public. But they should be accessible, even to people upset with them.

Democracy can be messy

Public officials are not held up as perfect nor unquestionable, as it should be, because they are in office to serve the public. If your Social Security payments are threatened, or higher tariffs mandated by the federal government threaten your small business, who else can citizens call but their member of Congress?

Constituents have a right to be able to communicate their thoughts about issues with elected officials. Demonstrations and rallies are a part of this country’s fabric.

McClintock has served in Congress since 2009. His sprawling 5th Congressional District stretches from Placerville to a chunk of the City of Fresno, generally north of Shaw and bounded by Willow Avenue and Road 35.

The 68-year-old conservative has not been seriously challenged in years. He has won some contests with than 60% of the vote. He also represents a district that is heavily Republican, with 43.41% registered Republicans to 30.3% Democrats. In other words, McClintock is comporting himself like a politician who can blow off constituents who don’t agree with him or the policies of his party.

An arrogant politician is most likely to disenfranchise voters or pick and choose who helps. That’s bad for citizens and bad for democracy.

Office hours remain vital for constituents to discuss issues with federal agencies, lobby for a certain vote on legislation, or express concerns over the congress member’s voting record.

Their voices need to be heard.