Halitz concedes she should spend more time in home state

CHRISTENKERR, East Deschire -- Caught up in an ever-increasingly difficult primary race against a well-known opponent, incumbent Sen. Denna Halitz (C) admitted Wednesday she has not spent enough time back home in East Deschire, and plans to spend more time in the state she represents in the future.

Halitz made the admission in an interview with local GBC Radio affiliate 1390 AM. When asked by local political radio host Michael Damser why she has spent less time in East Deschire than the state's three other senators, Halitz admitted she has not come home enough on the weekends and during Congressional recesses.

Said Damser: "The Hansboro Laureate (newspaper) says you only came back to East Deschire 15 times last year (2013). That's significantly less than our other three senators. And the paper says you only appeared at seven public events (in 2013), also less than your colleagues. How come you have been so reluctant to come back? Don't you think that, as a senator who represents the people of the state of East Deschire, you should spend more time here in our state to talk with voters and meet with constituents about issues that are important to them? It seems to some that you're a senator in absentia. You technically represent East Deschire but you're never here. Isn't that a legitimate criticism?"

Halitz responded by acknowledging she has not spent enough time with constituents.

"I think that's a very fair question and I will admit that I have not spent enough time back here at home in East Deschire. I've been so busy in Mavocke that I haven't allowed myself to come home as often as I should. And I admit that and apologize for that. I owe it to the citizens of this state to be around and available and to spend more time on East Deschire soil."

She continued, "For me, it's not that I don't like coming back to East Deschire. I'd much rather be here than in Mavocke, to tell the truth. It's just that as a member of Congress, you get so busy and involved in legislation and committees, and charity work and conferences and policy work, that you forget the most important thing is the people. It's going down to the local diner to have coffee and talk with your neighbors. It's walking in parades and shaking hands of the citizens you represent, and attending festivals and community events and talking with people. That's the most important thing a member of Congress can do, and unfortunately I have not done enough of that, and I'm very sorry about that, and I pledge to do more of that in the future and not get so engrossed in the paperwork and the policy work of Mavocke," said Halitz.

Unsurprisingly, former hardline Sen. Nancy Lindselli, who is challenging Halitz in the CNS primary election, was quick to seize on the Laureate's article.

"The Hansboro Laureate says that Denna Halitz has spent less time in East Deschire than any of our other senators. The Laureate also pointed out that I spent more time in East Deschire, on average, than any of the current senators, when I was in office. That really goes to show the level of commitment of both respective candidates. Senator Halitz feels it's better to stay in Mavocke and hob-knob with politicians and interest groups, while I feel the best way to do your job as a legislator is to be on the ground with the people you represent, so you can gauge their opinions and feelings and go back to Mavocke and cast a vote that represents their views. It's a commitment issue," Lindselli said in a press conference with East Deschire media in Derosa, Wednesday.

The Laureate's  research showed Conservative Sen. Mike Aventhalle spent the most time in East Deschire last year, making 35 trips back to the state from Mavocke during 2013. Sen. Portia McLendon (N) made 27 trips back to East Deschire, while Sen. Allison Sweeten (N) made 18. Halitz made only 15, according to the paper.

The paper's analysis of travel records also found Lindselli traveled home 45 times in 2012, the last year she was in office, however, 2012 was a campaign year and Lindselli was up for re-election (she lost to Sweeten in a very close race).

The paper also scrutinized public events held by the senators, including town hall meetings, community forums, and meet-and-greets.

McLendon held the most events, holding 28 for the year 2013, while Aventhalle held 24. Sweeten held 14, and Halitz just 7.

Aventhalle made more trips to East Deschire for political fundraisers, according to documents disclosed by the campaigns.

Meanwhile, in an interview with the Christenkerr Ledger, Halitz defended herself, and insisted she has not been entirely disengaged from the state during her tenure.

"Every day, I sit down at my desk and I listen to phone calls from my constituents, I answer their emails, many of them personally. I write letters to folks, I skype with my constituents back home in East Deschire several times a week. I do conference calls, I do online chats where the public can interact with me. I do interviews with East Deschire TV stations and newspapers. I Facebook and I tweet. And when I'm busy or in a meeting or the Senate's in session, I have my staff represent me at functions and back home in East Deschire. And they keep me updated and help me communicate with folks back home. So I do have some areas where I can improve. But it's not as if I'm completely detached from the people I represent."

Polls show Halitz's lack of connection with the state's voters may be the number one issue on CNS primary voters' minds. A poll published Monday by the Weber Society, a conservative fiscal group, showed 71% of CNS voters think Halitz is too liberal.

The poll also found that 61% of respondents think Nancy Lindselli is more committed to East Deschire, and 59% believe Lindselli better represents their values.

Those numbers are alarming to the Halitz campaign, which explains why the embattled senator has been seeking to re-establish ties to her home state, particularly in the western half of the state, where Halitz has spent less time and is not as well known or liked.

A spokesman for Denna Halitz's campaign said the senator has a "rigorous" schedule for the next several months, and will be making many campaign appearances across the state.

"Denna Halitz is a senator for all of East Deschire. She believes we are better off as a state when we are united as one and not divided by political or geographical differences and boundaries," a statement from her campaign read.

The senator's next big campaign event will be this Saturday in the central East Deschire town of Freelan, where she will speak to community leaders about transportation and improving the economy in the hub city, which lies at the junction of NR-15 and NR-71.

She'll also travel to several smaller towns in the central part of the state as a part of her "rural community outreach" program.

Menuhaeos highlight armed forces, tout science and culture in Veroche trip

TWIN LAKES, Veroche -- It's been a very busy past three days for President Brenton Menuhaeo and First Lady Carolla Menuhaeo, as they've traveled around the state in Veroche not to campaign for fellow Nationalist political candidates, but to stump for important causes.

The first couple arrived in Lanakis late Friday evening, where the president spoke at the Murkallo Institute, a leading pharmaceutical research facility in east Lanakis.

The Murkallo Institute employs over 400 scientists, and in recent years, has produced ground-breaking research in treating cancer, AIDS, and Alzheimer's disease, among others. Calling the Institute's work "vital," President Menuhaeo said he would push Congress to approve nearly $400 million over the next seven years in grants and federal funding for the Institute.

"Every day, researchers here at the Murkallo Institute devote their skills, their time, their careers and their lives to discovering break-throughs in medicine and biotechnology. Life-saving treatments and medications are coming out of this wonderful facility, and I will push Congress to approve this spending proposal because this is money well-invested in the future of health care and science," Menuhaeo said.

The president was joined by three of Veroche's four senators --  Kit McHenry (C), Niles Gilcrest (C), and Mark Peoninski (N) -- all of whom said they would support the funding allocation.

After his speech, the president and first lady arrived at the state capitol of Pointe Leare, a small suburb that borders Lanakis on the south, Kanassett on the north, and Lake Hutchison on the west.

The Menuhaeos were hosted at the Veroche Governor's mansion by Gov. Linda Van Auhn and her husband Paul, who are longtime friends of the first family.

Saturday morning, the presidential entourage traveled three hours south to Trewallen Military Academy in Cloverfield in central Veroche, just outside the twin cities of Flicksman-DeMarra, for a military graduation ceremony.

Menuhaeo spoke to the infantry cadets, thanking them for their service and bestowing a Pendant of Sacred Duty upon each of the 350 graduates.

"Each of you brave young men and women have finished your formal military training today. But the real training is just beginning. The training that only comes with service in action. Serving alongside your brothers and sisters at arms. Serving alongside the forces of Grassadellia's allies in the battlefield and in times of peace. Serving the people of this country, who are counting on you to make them proud and to embody the honor this flag bestows," the president said, pointing to the national flag.

Menuhaeo is himself a Navy veteran of the Korean War.

He told the National Press Federation (NPF) that he "never tires of attending a military graduation ceremony."

"Seeing these young kids, who are signing up and signing their lives away to a cause greater than themselves, that really fills me up with pride."

Next on the agenda, the president and first lady were whisked even further south to Twin Lakes, where they watched a GSL soccer match between the Twin Lakes Hornets and the Owens Park Nomads.

The Menuhaeos showed a more relaxed side at the soccer game at Letchfield Stadium.

The president was seen having a beer and eating peanuts with Hornets owner Tom Marshall, while First Lady Carolla Menuhaeo was spotted sipping lemonade and sharing laughs with Twin Lakes Mayor Georgia Waldo Basson.

After a leisurely afternoon at the soccer game, it was off to a more formal event at the Sidney Altruss Opera House in downtown Twin Lakes, where the president and first lady were hosted once again by Gov. Van Auhn, Mayor Waldo Basson, and Twin Lakes-area MP Beth McGill, who represents the seat of Jilanovich-East Waters.

The dignitaries were treated to a performance by Italian-Grassadellian soprano Ava Cillione Dianchi, and world-renowned harpist Rebecca Von Keil, a Veroche native.

And finally, Sunday morning, the president headed north to the University of Western Veroche in Pendleton, where he gave his second speech of the weekend, speaking on the importance of the arts in Grassadellian culture.

"A lot of people think the military or a strong economy are the defining characteristics of our country," said Menuhaeo. "Those things are important, but the soul of our country, the very intimate essence of our nation's character is expressed not through military might or economic power, but through the arts and the gifts and talents of our citizens."

He used the opportunity to announce his proposal of a $280 million proposal for funding endowments for the arts, and urged Congress to act to pass it.

"A lot of people are pushing austerity right now because of the economy and the budget. But we cannot afford to be stingy when it comes to the arts, because they define our culture and give life to our society," he said.

And after dozens of handshakes, autographs and posing for pictures with college students, having traveled clockwise around the state for the past three days, the Menuhaeos boarded the presidential plane and flew back to Mavocke.

The three-day swing through Veroche was all apart of the president's plan to travel the country and highlight issues of national importance in campaign-like style, rather than from Collester where he is secluded from the public.

"President Menuhaeo very much loves to get out of Mavocke and travel around the country and interact with the Grassadellian people. He finds it invigorating and liberating from the walls of Mavocke that really tend to insulate the president and members of Congress from the reality out in the field," Collester spokesman Andy Satterberg told the NPF.

No future outings have been announced on the president's travel schedule. But as campaign season heats up, he's likely to be out touring the country to stump for fellow Nationalists. And with the NAT facing a tough election this year, the president could find himself spending a lot of time jet-setting around the country.