By PATRICK JACKSON
Dover Bureau reporter
01/21/2003
Wish you could give Gov. Ruth Ann Minner a piece of your mind, face to face?
Delaware residents will have a chance to do exactly that starting Jan. 31, when Minner begins holding open office hours on a regular basis to meet with residents to hear their ideas, complaints and opinions.
Minner said Monday that she wants to use the one-on-one meetings to stay in touch with residents, help solve their problems with state government and perhaps pick up a tip or two. She is calling the program "Open Door after 4."
"Some of the best ideas we've had have come because people said they had a problem with this agency or that department and suggested a better way to do things," Minner said. "So, we're always ready to listen."
People must make an appointment three days in advance of the session and will be allowed 5 minutes with Minner. The sessions will alternate between Minner's Dover and Wilmington offices and will last about two hours. Staff members will be assigned to follow up on ideas or complaints.
The Jan. 31 session will be held in the Tatnall Building, across the street from Legislative Hall in Dover. The response will help Minner and her staff determine how frequently to schedule the sessions. Minner spokesman Greg Patterson said the goal is to hold the sessions monthly, depending on the governor's schedule and public reaction.
Jeff Clayton of Smyrna won't be among the first group. He said he likes the idea, but doesn't have anything he feels strongly enough about to share with Minner.
"I think it's great that people have a chance to talk straight to the governor instead of maybe having something get lost with a representative or a senator," Clayton said. "It's a good idea."
Minner said the idea came to her at a meeting with other governors, many of whom were talking about the problem of staying in touch with constituents.
"I've heard from people who have said they'd like to talk to me, but don't have the time because they're at work all day," Minner said. "This way, if they get off work at 4, 4:30 or 5, they can stop by the office and know we'll be here to meet them."
The sessions won't be quite that informal, however.
People wanting to take part must provide the topic they wish to discuss along with their name, address, telephone number, Social Security number and date of birth for a security screening.
Carol Beck of Claymont said the security screening might dissuade some people from participating. Beck, an associate professor at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, suggested that Minner's time might be better spent opening her office on weekends, or creating an Internet "chat room" program providing live interaction with people.
"There are a lot of people who live in Delaware and work in Center City Philadelphia who have strong opinions that couldn't do something like this," Beck said.
Minner said the idea of an online forum is worth exploring.
"I have no problem with the idea of going online as this develops," Minner said. "We already try to follow up on all the e-mail we get in the office."
Stephanie Bartsch of Townsend credits Minner for opening her door, but said she doubts the resulting conversations will change things.
"She didn't listen to people on the smoking thing, so I doubt that she'll listen to what other people have to say," Bartsch said. Minner signed Delaware's indoor smoking ban into law last summer despite the objections of casino operators, some bar owners and some voters.
Reach Patrick Jackson at 678-4274 or pjackson@delawareonline.com.
