When Congressman Tom McClintock’s district was redrawn two years ago, the area he serves substantially shifted. Within the newly drawn boundaries, the needs of his constituents are different. As a result, the Congressman is out of touch with voters he represents.
Mr. McClintock has been intermittently sending out email newsletters to those who signed up for them. The purpose of the newsletters should be to inform his constituents as to how he is representing them. Unfortunately, he appears clueless as to the needs of the district: he never discusses any subject that directly benefits his constituents.
Instead, the newsletter goes on partisan diatribes of a cultural nature. He conducts surveys asking for agreement with his political doctrine. He never discusses what he is actually delivering for his district.
For example, Congressman Josh Harder, representing the Stockton area, has delivered infrastructure such as the $50 million rehabilitation of the Port of Stockton and a program to bring more doctors to the Valley. Even though I do not live in Harder’s district, I know what he is doing.
In contrast, McClintock has not delivered anything that I am aware of to the part of his district in the Modesto area. If he has, the information did not appear in his newsletter. So, why is he in Congress if not to serve?
Certainly, Congressman McClintock deserves time to get to know his district and find out what his constituents need. He has had a year and has not demonstrated any initiative beyond the partisan email outreach and a couple of phone town hall meetings scheduled during the dinner hour. Perhaps, he fears face-to-face meetings.
I don’t care what your political party is. Your number one priority is to know your district’s needs, know your constituents, and deliver solutions to problems. If you can’t do that, step aside and let someone else from your party run for your seat.
I recently called a member of the Congressman’s Washington DC staff to ask what he is doing to get this year’s budget passed. The reply was: “I don’t know. I have not talked to the Congressman lately”. With all due respect, Congressman, your staff should know what you are doing. If they don’t know, how can they serve your constituents, who cannot operate in an information vacuum.
In frustration, I said to the staff person: “Since you are unable to give me an answer, please give the Congressman this message:
‘Sir, you are my ONLY representative to Congress. Therefore, I hold you personally responsible for whatever happens. I expect the budget to be passed on time and the government to be kept open. If this does not happen, you cannot count on my support.‘”
On September 30th, Congress passed a continuing resolution, but did not pass a new budget on time. Congressman McClintock’s district does not need partisan representation, where political party is put above the needs of his district. Please step aside so we can find someone, Republican or not, who will actually represent us. Don’t be an advertisement for term limits.
Absent a reply to this writing from the Congressman showing accomplishment in representation and benefit delivered to his district, we should either presume that he plans to retire or help him to the exit in the 2024 election. We are a district left behind compared to the rest of the nation.
Thank you for stating what is so obvious to many of us. Congressman McClintock is not responsive to many of us, his constituents. He does not deliver for us. Is he even aware of our concerns and our priorities? I don’t believe he listens to us. He does not speak for us in any meaningful way. I fear he is too entrenched to consider not running for re-election.
Surprising, McClintock’s staff are not, at the very least, prepared with a short elevator speech, to keep up appearances. Why are they on the taxpayer’s payroll?
Not surprising, nothing is at it should seem. Deadbeats, not anonymous. There are many of those scattered around these parts of Stanislaus County. Is this where politicians, of every party, come to rest on their laurels? Those without homes cannot rest, because politicians answer to the unhoused is sweeping them aside. Tsk, tsk! Can’t be bothered.
McClintock is a known commodity. His feet are firmly planted in concrete and his brain solidified long ago. The people in his old district liked his style and seemed to like his “hands off” approach to governing. In my opinion, he will never change as he sees no need to. Sad to say, redistricting of 2020/2021 left Modesto thinkers with no representation. Part of trouble was the way the redistricting was done. Our area gave McClintock the population he needed to qualify, not supposed to work that way, and his old area people overruled us and our ideology.
I am grateful for your work.