Editor, The Smithfield Times:

In our republican system of government, congressional representatives are the interface between people at the local level and the federal government. 

Last November, Jen Kiggans failed to show up for the Isle of Wight/Smithfield Candidates Forum. She continues to be a no-show now as our representative in the U.S. Congress. Constituents throughout the Western counties and cities of the 2nd Congressional District are already being impacted by the actions of the current administration. Whether it is the reckless approach to personnel cuts across the federal government or the broad use of tariffs, the impacts are very local. 

Throughout the last two months, Jen Kiggans has been absent. Jen Kiggans is a low-profile, perhaps even stealth, representative. 

Her constituents are talking about being fired by DOGE or cut off from markets by tariffs; she’s talking about Daylight Savings Time. She promised to stand up for veterans, but doesn’t question Elon Musk and DOGE role in attacking the Department of Veterans Affairs. She said she stood for military retirees and families but hasn’t spoken out about Republican cuts to TRICARE and other benefits. She said she stood for agriculture but hasn’t spoken out about tariffs. Many Isle of Wight agricultural products are sold overseas in countries that are being targeted with tariffs. 

She said she stood up for Ukraine and NATO but has been invisible when other Republicans stood up for them. NATO is literally our neighbor and in many cases her constituents’ employer! Like many of her constituents, I have written her but only received non-answers and GOP boilerplate. 

Smithfield, Isle of Wight, Windsor, Franklin need a representative who represents them. That starts with talking to us. Jen Kiggans needs to get out and talk to her constituents about their needs and concerns with the economic impacts of the current administration’s chaotic approach to implementing cuts and tariffs. It’s time for Jen Kiggans to represent. It’s time she confronted the impact of Elon Musk and DOGE, not dodge the issues.

Jen Kiggans, this has become a local issue for the people of the 2nd Congressional District. Come and talk to the people you represent.

 

Charles W. Robinson

Carrollton