"Democracy is not a spectator sport," or so says the League of Women Voters. And it acted on that by hosting a legislator forum at the Suncrest United Methodist Church Wednesday night. Phyllis Marshall, president of the Morgantown-Monongalia County chapter of the league, says events like these are a good tool to allow voters' voices to be heard.
"Legislators need to know what our main concerns are. It's very easy to just have the legislators express their own ideas, but they need to know what the people who elected them expect them to do also," said Marshall.
Each legislator who attended had a chance to speak about issues he or she was concerned with, before taking questions from people in the audience about topics they care about. One of the biggest issues voters brought up was Marcellus Shale drilling.
"Legislation needs to be adopted to help protect the citizens of West Virginia, protect our air, and our water. I think that's a very important thing that we need to do," said Doug Gilbert, a WVU student who came to the forum to hear from all the legislators about the plans for Marcellus regulation in the upcoming legislative session.
Events like these provide an opportunity for voters to reach their elected officials, but it's equally beneficial to the legislators, who get the chance to learn more about what their communities want to see done.
"I do think that what we do in government is important. It affects your life and it's important that we know what people think should be done," said Delegate Barbara Evans Fleischauer, who represents the 44th District.
If you'd like to contact your representatives in government, the Morgantown-Monongalia County chapter of the League publishes a "Guide to Government Officials" at all levels of government. You can find more information about how to contact your representatives on the League's website through the link above.
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