Rob Curnock, Republican candidate for Congress in District 17, today released the following statement on Town Hall meetings scheduled in the district:

“I am encouraged that Rep. Edwards has decided to follow our lead and is tentatively scheduling public town hall meetings in the district on health care. We are committed to holding the meetings we scheduled earlier this month. Central Texans are ready for real conservative leadership on this issue, and we are the ones leading.

“I have committed to the people of District 17 that we will listen to their feedback and pass it along to conservative leaders in the House and Senate. We are continuing with our plans to hold Town Hall meetings on health care in Waco, Burleson and Bryan, and are adding a fourth meeting in Clifton on Aug. 31.

“It’s pretty clear that a controlled teleconference call is just not an ideal environment to get widespread input on such an important issue. Our in‐person town hall at 6:30 pm Aug. 20 in Waco will provide a much better environment for discussion of issues than listening to the telephone presentation Rep. Edwards’ office recently scheduled at the same time.

“If Rep. Edwards is sincere in his desire to listen to voters in Central Texas, we again invite him to join us at any or all of our town hall meetings, which are already firmly scheduled.”

The Aug. 12 story announcing the first three town halls is available online for more information.

A fourth town hall meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm Monday, Aug. 31, 2009, at Cooler Center, 903 South Ave. G, in Clifton. The full schedule of Town Hall meetings is available below:

• McLennan County:
  6:30 – 8 pm, Thursday, Aug. 20
  Onward & Upward Building, 4709 Bosque Blvd.
  Waco
• Johnson County:
  6:30 – 8 pm, Tuesday, Aug. 25
  Burleson City Hall, 141 W. Renfro St.
  Burleson
• Brazos County:
  6:30 – 8 pm, Thursday, Aug. 27
  Sue Haswell Pavilion, 1142 E. Wm. J. Bryan Pkwy
  Bryan
• Bosque County:
  6:30 – 8 pm, Monday, Aug. 31
  Cooler Center, 903 South Avenue G (between Craig’s Auto and Bunk House BBQ)
  Clifton (bring your own chairs)