Frustrated voters address empty chair at a town hall meeting meant for Rep. Kat Cammack
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - Frustrated voters filled Upper Room Ministries on Friday evening to share concerns about issues affecting their community. However, the person they hoped to hear from, Congresswoman Kat Cammack, never showed up.
Instead, a single empty chair sat at the front of the room—what organizers called a symbol of the “missing dialogue” between lawmakers and the people they represent.
The CD-3 Citizens Coalition invited Cammack to speak at a town hall meeting about a wide range of national and local policy concerns. But residents say they weren’t surprised when her seat remained empty.
“When people are elected to Congress, they’re not elected to vote and represent for themselves,” said Margo Blahey, one of the attendees. “They’re elected by all the people— even the people who didn’t vote for them.”
The room was filled with emotion and applause as more than 100 attendees took turns addressing the empty chair, opening their statements with phrases like, “Good evening, Re…