Disappointed with Morrison’s silence

Last fall, I voted to re-elect state Rep. Tom Morrison (R-District 54) based on the Daily Herald’s endorsement and a positive experience I had contacting him in 2011. I urged him to vote against a bill that would prohibit landlords from running background checks on renters. He responded quickly and called twice to follow up.

Though I generally consider myself an independent liberal, I valued the consideration he showed for the opinions of his constituency despite his Tea Party and Republican affiliations.

In January, I wrote to urge him to support equal marriage legislation when it comes for a vote in the House. I waited for months for any response to my long, polite, and well-written and researched email. I liked his Facebook page and tagged him when I reposted my letter to my Timeline to elicit a response. None came.

On Friday, over four months later, I generated a response by replying to a post on his Facebook page in which he was upset with voting tactics by House Democrats. He stated that he’d been bombarded by responses supporting both sides of the issue and that, didn’t agree my stance on “redefining marriage,” and that all constituents should be upset about the original post.

I feel I voted for him under the pretense he cared about the viewpoints of his constituents. I voted for him to represent my concerns and those of my neighbors. I have heard from several individuals whose letters were also ignored by Rep. Morrison; one constituent has even been blocked from commenting on Rep. Morrison’s Facebook page or sending him messages.

I understand Rep. Morrison has been extremely concerned about the budget, we all are. That said it is unconscionable for an elected official to ignore or silence constituents with whom he disagrees.

Elizabeth Van Orden

Palatine