Where have you been, Melissa Bean?

When Melissa Bean ran for Congress in 2004 she did so on the message that Phil Crane was not willing to debate her and that he was out of touch with the people in the 8th Congressional District. Two years later, in her race against David McSweeney, there weren't many debates between the two. History has a tendency to repeat itself.

Here we are in 2008, in another election for the 8th Congressional District and Congresswoman Bean has been in hiding from Republican Steve Greenberg. I understand completely that members of Congress have had a tough few weeks in Washington working on the bailout. Congresswoman Bean voted for the bailout.

Congress is in recess and we still haven't heard from Melissa Bean on the most important issues facing our district. She has had time to travel to South Carolina on behalf of Sen. Obama and Denver for the convention, but she hasn't had time to hold a town-hall meeting with the people of the 8th District.

Steve Greenberg has. He has gone door-to-door all over this district spreading his message that Washington has forgotten who the customer is. When Todd Stroger and the Democrats raised the sales tax in Cook County, Steve Greenberg was there to fight for working families and businesses in Cook County. Where was Melissa Bean? She was not only silent, but by her own admission, didn't know what was happening in Cook County.

We deserve better. Steve Greenberg has been very accessible to the people of the 8th Congressional district. He is exactly the kind of leadership we need in Washington now more than ever before.

Ryan Melchin

Hoffman Estates