Dear Rep. Barr: We’re not ‘paid liberal activists.’ We’re concerned citizens who want to talk | Opinion
To Rep. Andy Barr:
I am a part of the 8-person, all-volunteer, committee who is organizing the People’s Town Hall on Saturday, March 22, at the Kentucky Theatre. Not one of us is being paid and we are a cross-partisan group of concerned constituents. Several of us have spoken in person and via email with your staff to practically beg you to have your own in-person town hall or to attend ours. I have copies of emails from your office manager, Tatum Dale, on March 10 where you declined our invitation, so please don’t say we didn’t coordinate with your office. We tried for weeks.
In our frustration with not being able to share our concerns with you directly, we decided to pursue creating our own People’s Town Hall with or without you. There will be a chair and a mic set up for you and we hope you will change your mind and come. We have carefully planned a non-partisan, respectful, inclusive, and well-moderated format for your constituents, with security. We have no intention of hosting a shouting match as stated by your campaign staff Taylor Staker, rather we offer a platform for voters to share their stories and concerns. A place for them to be heard.
When I called your office in early March, your staff indicated you would not be back in the district until April. I knew this was untrue because I had purchased my $70 ticket to the Commerce Lex lunch on March 19. At the paid event Wednesday, you repeatedly stated you would sit down with any of us. You said to call your office anytime because you “are here to help!” But many of your constituents have been visiting your office, calling, and writing to you with their concerns and you clearly are not listening.
Please come to the Kentucky Theatre Saturday morning at 10 a.m. and listen to the stories about how what’s happening in D.C. is affecting us and share with us your plans to help. Show us that you actually represent and care about ALL of your constituents.
All you need to do is show up and listen.
Respectfully,
Jennifer Stephenson McLamb
Jennifer Stephenson McLamb is a Lexington wellness professional with a back ground in non-profit development, who also served as a staff member for GOP 6th District Rep Larry J Hopkins.
This story was originally published March 21, 2025 at 10:35 AM.