Letter to Editor: Where is our representation in Mahoning County?

As concerned constituents of Ohio’s 6th Congressional District, we visited Representative Michael Rulli’s Canfield office on February 21 to voice our concerns and seek answers from our elected representative or his staff.

For weeks, many of us have attempted to reach his office by phone, only to be met with un-returned calls and no clear way to engage with our congressman.

Hoping for better luck in person, we arrived at his Canfield office—only to be met at the door by a staffer who informed us that the office does not handle legislative matters and has no congressional staffers available to discuss policy issues.

We were not allowed entry and were instead directed to the DC or Marietta office as points of contact for legislative concerns.

This lack of access is unacceptable. Mahoning County is one of the most densely populated areas in the district, yet Representative Rulli has no congressional staff in his local office to engage with constituents on policy issues.

Rulli was born and raised in Mahoning County and continues to run his family’s business, Rulli Bros. Markets, in the area. If anyone should understand the importance of maintaining a strong presence and open communication with Mahoning County residents, it should be Representative Rulli.

We are calling on Representative Rulli to establish a proper legislative presence in Mahoning County by staffing the Canfield office with personnel who can facilitate meetings, address legislative concerns, and improve district-wide communication.

We also urge him to hold public events or town halls where he can hear directly from the people he represents. Constituents should not have to chase their congressman across the district just to be heard.

We will continue to push for accountability and transparency, and we encourage our fellow residents to call Rulli’s offices and demand better representation. If our elected representative will not engage with us, we will find other ways to make our voices heard.

This story was originally published February 23, 2025 at 5:13 AM.