I Feel Penalized Because of Where I Live

I’ve been thinking about something since Tuesday’s election, and frankly, it makes me angry.

I feel as though I’m being penalized simply because of where I live.

Let me explain.

I live on the south side of Indianapolis. Just a few miles in another direction, and my representation in Washington would be entirely different.

If I lived north of Indianapolis, beginning in January 2027, my congressman would be J.D. Ford. Ford has made a public commitment to holding regular town halls, meeting with constituents, listening to their concerns, and making himself accessible to the people he represents.

If I lived in another part of Indianapolis, my congressman would be André Carson. Carson has a record of meeting directly with constituents, participating in public forums, and holding events where people can raise questions and concerns.

But I live south of Indianapolis.

And my congressman is Jefferson Shreve.

Now, Congressman Shreve certainly makes public appearances. We see the photographs. We see him visiting businesses, attending events, meeting with organizations, and standing alongside selected groups of people.

His office also provides constituent services, including opportunities to meet with staff members.

But that’s not what I’m talking about.

I’m talking about having an opportunity to stand in front of my elected representative, ask him a question, and expect him to answer it.

Not a staff member. Not a form letter. Not another carefully prepared press release.

The congressman himself.

I want to attend an open town hall where constituents can ask questions about legislation, government spending, healthcare, Social Security, immigration, and the many decisions being made in Washington that affect our daily lives.

I want to hear his answers. I want to understand his reasoning. And when I disagree with him, I want the opportunity to say so.

I don’t expect him to agree with me. In fact, given our political differences, I suspect we would disagree about quite a lot.

But disagreement is not a reason to avoid a conversation.

It’s one of the most important reasons to have one.

And this is where my frustration becomes something bigger than my personal disappointment.

Why should access to our elected representatives depend on which side of Indianapolis we happen to live on?

We all pay federal taxes. We all live under the same federal laws. We all have concerns about our families, our communities, our healthcare, and our country’s future.

And every member of Congress takes an oath to support and defend the Constitution.

Yet the experience of being represented can feel dramatically different depending on the person elected to serve your district.

I understand that congressional offices have staff. I understand that representatives have demanding schedules, committee responsibilities, and obligations in Washington.

But none of that eliminates the responsibility to engage directly with the people who sent them there.

A photograph at a local business is not a substitute for a public conversation.

A meeting with a selected organization is not the same as an open forum.

And having staff available to assist constituents, while important, is not the same as being personally accountable to them.

I would like Congressman Shreve to announce regularly scheduled, publicly accessible town halls throughout the Sixth District. I would like him to take questions from people who support him and people who don’t. I would like him to explain his votes and listen to concerns without knowing in advance whether the audience will agree with him.

That doesn’t seem like an unreasonable expectation.

It seems like a fundamental part of representative democracy.

I shouldn’t have to move north to feel heard.

I shouldn’t have to move into Indianapolis to have a meaningful opportunity to question my congressman.

And I certainly shouldn’t have to agree with my representative politically to expect him to engage with me.

I am not asking for special treatment. I am asking for representation.

And I don’t think that should be too much to ask.

Julie Bolejack, MBA

The Mindful Activist

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