John Rutherford to meet constituents at Jacksonville Catholic Church on Tuesday

U.S. Rep. John Rutherford has no plans for an official town hall while in his Jacksonville-centered district this week.

Yet those interested in catching the first-term Republican have an opportunity Tuesday evening, when Rutherford addresses the Young Catholic Professionals at St. Joseph’s Church in Mandarin.

The event, which will be held at the “Cody Family Enrichment Center” on site, will kick off with beer, wine, and appetizers at 7:00 p.m.

Rutherford will speak and take questions from the assembled at 7:45.

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In lieu of an actual town hall from the congressman, a constituent-hosted town hall is planned for Thursday at noon outside his district office (4130 Salisbury Road).

Predicated on the assumption that President Donald Trump‘s “hateful agenda is unacceptable and politically toxic,” organizers assert that Rutherford’s staff cited his health problems last month as a reason for not scheduling a town hall event while in town.

This assertion was disputed by Rutherford’s communications director, Taryn Fenske, who said that the health issue claim is “false.”

As well, Fenske asserts that Rutherford has been meeting with constituent groups while in town.

“Listening to the citizens of Florida’s 4th District is the most important part of Congressman Rutherford’s job and he takes it very seriously, he cannot represent their views in Congress without doing so,” Fenske asserted.

“We look for every way to engage with constituents – by phone, email, our website, social media, and of course in person meetings. He meets with dozens of constituents each week in Washington, D.C. and in Northeast Florida,” Fenske added, “and will continue to do so.”

Constituents who would like to meet Rutherford have the opportunity to do so on Tuesday evening.