'Town hall' meeting includes stuffed Chandler

Attendees asked questions of a stuffed dummy representing U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler Saturday afternoon in a spoof of town hall meetings on health care reform that are being held around the country.

Sue Jaycox of Nicholasville said she organized the event, which was held at the main branch of the Lexington Public Library, because she had been calling Chandler’s office for weeks, asking unsuccessfully for him to host a town hall meeting on health care reform.

Although some legislators around the country are holding open forums with constituents this month, Chandler has chosen to meet with small groups instead.

Earlier this month, Jennifer Krimm, a spokeswoman for Chandler, D-Versailles, said that he “will continue to discuss issues with constituents at events and meetings in each county in the Sixth Congressional District as he has done every August recess in the past. However, we are concerned about the lack of civility and lack of meaningful dialogue displayed at some meetings in the town hall format across the country, and there are no town hall meetings planned at this time.”

Jaycox said she didn’t officially invite Chandler to Saturday’s meeting, but she did call his office beforehand to tell staffers that she was going to have a town hall meeting, with or without Chandler.

Jaycox said she wanted Chandler to know that “we are still going to hold your feet to the fire — even if we have to make your feet,” she said, referring to the dummy. “We’re not trying to be malicious. We’re just trying to send a message.”

She said a video of the event, which was attended by more than 120 people, would be produced and posted on the video-sharing Web site YouTube.com.

The question-and-answer session with the faux Chandler was moderated by David Adams, the campaign manager for Rand Paul, a Bowling Green eye surgeon who is running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Jim Bunning.

After the stuffed dummy was removed from the stage, Matt Lockett, a Nicholasville Republican who plans to run against Chandler, discussed his opposition to Democrats’ proposals for health care reform, which he said will add to the national deficit and “grow government control of your life and mine.”

Jaycox said she organized the event as an individual citizen and is not affiliated with a political campaign or organization.

“It was just me wanting to say, ‘Where’s Ben?’” Jaycox said.

- Karla Ward