Jan 2, 2010

By Keyonna Summers

For the second time in recent months, overwhelming response to a community forum sponsored by state Rep. Bill Posey has forced the Republican congressman to move a question-and-answer session with constituents to a larger venue.

At least 500 people already have RSVP’d for a town hall discussion on the 2009 legislative session and priorities for this year, to be from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Holiday Inn Melbourne-Viera Conference Center, 8298 N. Wickham Road.

The event was scheduled in the Florida Room of the Brevard County Government Center in Viera, where county commission meetings are conducted.

A similar town hall on health-care reform drew more than 3,000 people to the King Center in September, filling the venue to capacity, Posey spokesman George Cecala said.

“We want to make sure we have enough room, so we’re not turning people away,” Cecala said.

“Obviously, people have questions about the policies that are coming out of Washington and where we’re going as far as what direction the economy is heading,” he said. “Mr. Posey’s looking forward to the chance to talk to people. He wants to make sure he’s in tune with what’s in constituents’ minds and he wants to provide them with another opportunity to hold him accountable.”

Posey plans to begin the forum with a congressional review of 2009 and an outline of his agenda for 2010, which includes his efforts to make Washington more transparent and accountable to taxpayers, Cecala said. There also will be discussion about the space program’s impact on the Space Coast, he said.

Posey of Rockledge also will meet with local municipal leaders and constituents in Indian River and Osceola counties in the days leading up to his Jan. 12 return to the nation’s capital.

The Indian River County forum, set for Jan. 8, also was moved to a larger forum because of response.

Contact Summers at 242-3642 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

This article is reprinted from http://www.floridatoday.com