07-05-2025
Constituents voice frustrations during Messmer telephone town hall event
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — U.S. Representative Mark Messmer answered dozens of questions and addressed concerns on Tuesday evening during a special tele-town hall event.
It comes after protests and events where people say the congressman is absent and refuses to answer questions and concerns.
'I was excited to hear this was happening, especially that we were meeting as a community, so we could brainstorm and come up with the best questions,' says Jacob Wallace.
Wallace came to the McCollough Library Meeting Room to speak with fellow constituents and call to ask Representative Messmer questions.
'I have contacted the representative several times and have not had any feedback. We get the generic blasted email that comes back and says Thanks for contacting us, we will be happy to get back to you in the future,' Wallace says.
Wallace teaches Kindergarten and came to fight for his kids. He says a moderator pre-screened his question.
'Why won't Mark Messmer meet with his constituents face to face. Why is he hiding, and who is he really working for?' Wallace asked.
Wallace was on the phone for at least half an hour and never got to ask Messmer his question.
'I was told I was in the queue, and then I was on hold the entire process,' Wallace says.
'I am offended by how long I have had to wait, and I am not surprised at all. I am honestly surprised that the calls are happening,' says Laura Brown.
Brown was one of the first people in queue and says she never got to ask her question either.
'He did not like my question. I was going to ask him to make a commitment to not ship our residents to foreign prisons,' says Brown.
While many of the constituents we spoke with did not get through, others around the city did.
'Do you support these proposed tariffs by Donald Trump?' one resident asked.
'Trump's tariff negotiations are just part of making sure that we get rid of unfair trade packages from our foreign trading partners. I do not think it is anybody's best interest for a long-term extension of tariffs right now,' Representative Messmer answered.
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