Congressional candidates blitzed Bloomington Friday. The three candidates vying for the ninth district seat -- incumbent Baron Hill, Gretchen Clearwater, and Mike Sodrel -- all had speaking engagements in town that day. Each discussed very different issues. Here's what they had to say:
Baron Hill at Bloomingfoods
U.S. Rep. Baron Hill was surrounded by both organic produce and concerned constituents Friday.
During a visit to Bloomington's new near-westside Bloomingfoods, a Democrat representing Indiana's 9th District, stood in the back corner of the grocery and chatted with residents on issues including farm subsidies, the war in Iraq, tax cuts and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. He said that the visits were something new for his office.
"It gives people an opportunity to go one-on-one with a member of Congress," he said. "And I intended on listening more than talking."
A line quickly formed in front of Hill, who was sporting a butter yellow shirt, electric blue tie, and chocolate pinstripe suit. Lindsey Klaunig expressed concerns about subsidies for large farming operations through the farm bill. Calling herself a "landless wannabe farmer," she said Hill offered good information on the issue.
Her friend Isabel Estevez, a student at Indiana University, agreed. "I think he went into a lot of depth," she said. "He was candid and responsive."
Tina Haley, who works at the local Social Security office, told Hill she was concerned that the office was serving a five-county area of 300,000-plus people with only 6.5 employees.
"People can't get through on the phone and the waiting room is standing room only," she said. "It's ridiculous."
Bloomington resident Lorraine Farrell said she attended more to listen to the dialogue than to participate herself.
"I wanted to hear the discussion," she said. "I take every opportunity to interact with people who represent my city, county, state, and nationally.
- Reported by Bethany Nolan
