VERO BEACH — A group of residents who said they feel ignored and frustrated by U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos hosting town halls via telephone instead of in-person will hold their own grassroots event next week. The organizers plan to have the in-person town hall meeting with or without Haridopolos being there.
“The main two reasons I’ve organized this town hall is to bring community members together to be heard, and to hold Mike Haridopolos accountable to his constituents,” Organizer Rebecca Carswell said. “Haridopolos is avoiding his constituents, and he needs to know that the people who voted him into office have questions and concerns they want answered.”
The town hall will be held Tuesday, April 22 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Heritage Center, 2140 14th Ave., Vero Beach. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.
Organizers said the telephone town halls allow Haridopolos to vet inquiries, avoid answering tough questions and give responses that don’t directly address the issues. Those planning to attend next week’s in-person town hall should fill out an RSVP form, organizers said.
“Your voice matters. Please join your local community members on April 22, 2025, to voice your questions and concerns,” organizers said. “This is an in-person town hall, by the people, for the people. All are welcome.”
Carswell said she plans to hand deliver the attendee’s questions, concerns and comments to Haridopolos’ office after the town hall.
Across the nation, Republican congressmen are coming across tense town hall sessions as voters raise questions about federal job cuts, and budget wrangling from the new Trump administration. Next week’s town hall will cover topics including the economy, tariffs and 401k’s and retirement plans plummeting, along with the violation of constitutional rights, threats to Social Security and Medicaid and Veterans Affairs, organizers said.
Haridopolos, 55 and a longtime Brevard County resident, will not be present at the in-person town hall, according to his Communications Director George Alderman. Alderman said the telephone town halls are an efficient way to reach many constituents and take their questions live while also being respectful of people’s availability.
“Anyone, anywhere in the district can join to ask a question or raise an issue to Rep. Haridopolos,” Alderman said in an email. “During the February telephone town hall, we were able to reach more than 5,000 people across both Brevard and Indian River counties. Across the hour-long conversation, Rep. Haridopolos was able to directly answer 20 different questions on a wide range of topics directly from our constituents. After the event, we uploaded the full recording of that town hall online so that anyone could go back and listen.”
Haridopolos has made several stops to Indian River County this year. His most recent visit was in March, where he toured the beaches and saw the sand replenishment efforts from the county after serious damage from Hurricanes Nicole, Ian and Milton.
The Freshman legislator represents the 8th Congressional District, which includes all of Brevard and Indian River counties, along with parts of Orange County. Residents previously said they wanted Haridopolos to focus on issues including improving the National Flood Insurance Program, beach replenishment, expediting FEMA reimbursements to local government, and boosting Medicare reimbursements to healthcare providers.
Haridopolos, of Indian Harbour Beach, has a “Request an Appearance” feature on his website where residents can seek out the Congressman to attend meetings, speaking functions or non-speaking functions. The congressman previously served in the Florida Legislature for 12 years and as Florida Senate president from 2010 to 2012.
Haridopolos serves as chairperson of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology. The congressman also serves as Majority Whip of the House Financial Services Committee and a steering committee member of the Republican Study Committee.
Haridopolos’ next telephone town hall will be at 5:30 p.m. on April 28, with an RSVP deadline the day before. Those interested in participating can sign up on Haridopolos’ website.
