The Columbian has published letters from citizens who say they’ve contacted my office to ask a question, but haven’t received responses. I take these complaints seriously; listening and responding to Southwest Washington residents is central to my job. When my staff and I looked into these letters what we found was confusing; each individual had received multiple responses from me, most within the last few weeks.
For instance, a Nov. 15 letter writer said his calls and letters had been ignored, yet records confirmed that he received 47 letters from me, including three within the last six weeks. Another on Nov. 12 said he’d never received a response, but our records confirm I’ve written to him three times. An Oct. 22 letter made similar claims — yet our records indicate I’ve written back to that individual 72 times.
I receive over 1,000 calls, emails and letters per week — not to mention all those who chat with me in person. I strive to respond to every single one as soon as possible. While I don’t claim perfection, I’ll work my hardest to listen and respond to the ideas, questions, and concerns of those I serve. Working for you is my highest honor.
