Constituents silent at Bond's listening post

By Ben Holman

Nevada Daily Mail

On Tuesday, Senator Kit Bond's office held a listening post in the Vernon County Courthouse in Nevada. The event was announced days ahead of time in the Nevada Daily Mail as a time when a representative from Bond's office would be available for any constituent with a problem or concern about the federal government to come and be heard.

Patrick Morrow sat in the County Recorder's office from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. waiting to see if any local residents wanted to discuss any issues. Judging by the turnout, no one did -- no one came to discuss any matters at all. The lack of a turnout didn't seem to phase Morrow, who represents Bond at many of these listening posts and various other functions, "Sometimes people come, sometimes they don't," he said.

Vernon County Recorder Doug Shupe said that a representative from Bond's office comes by the courthouse every month, or every-other month for these listening posts.

"Sometimes a few people show up, but this time of year people are probably thinking more about shopping for Christmas presents," said Shupe.

While there was no turnout, no one seemed surprised. Morrow suggested that there generally isn't a large line of people looking to voice their concerns at these events. Shupe speculated that the Christmas season and the lack of any controversial legislation made it unlikely that anyone would stop by with any specific concerns.

According to Shana Stribling, press representative for Sen. Bond, "Unless there's legislation up that folks are all fired up about, there usually isn't much of a turnout."

She said that concerns that have been voiced by other citizens include questions as to how the highway bill is going to work now that it's been passed.

She also said that water resource management is another issue of utmost importance for Bond as he begins this term, "He's very concerned with working to improve the situation for farmers." She said those two, along with several other important issues, are high priorities.

"We've got lots of unfinished business," she said.

Even though there was no turnout, representatives from Bond's office will continue to come to Vernon County so that residents will have the ability to voice their concerns directly to a person from the office of the Senator.