Congressman: E-mail the preferred way to be contacted
By BERNARD SCHOENBURG
POLITICAL WRITER
Writing your congressman is not as easy as it once was.
That's why U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, appeared Monday at
Springfield's Lincoln Library to demonstrate how to use e-mail to reach his
congressional office.
Regular mail sent through the post office has not been delivered to Shimkus'
Washington, D.C., office in recent weeks because of the anthrax scare. It's
possible that the stalled mail could be destroyed, Shimkus said.
"What I want to tell people is, if they sent me mail in September and they
haven't received a response ... they need to resend the mail, and the best
way to do it right now is through e-mail."
Regular letters and faxes are still being received at Shimkus' regional
offices, including one in Springfield. And people also can stop by the
offices.
"They can call us, too," Shimkus said. "We just want to make sure that people
understand they can still get in contact with us."
However, e-mail may be the most reliable and convenient way for most people
to contact him in Washington, Shimkus said.
He noted that not everybody has a home computer, but most public libraries
allow people to use computers from which electronic mail can be sent.
In Shimkus' case, he said people should start at his congressional Web site,
www.house.gov/shimkus, and follow directions to send e-mail.
The system allows only current constituents of Shimkus to e-mail him. E-mail
from people who live in other districts, including that of U.S. Rep. Ray
LaHood, R-Peoria, will be directed by the system to their own congressman.
LaHood and Shimkus represent different parts of Springfield.
That approach keeps people from "spamming" Congress with e-mails and avoids
overloading the computers in congressional offices, Shimkus said.
The fax number to Shimkus' Washington office is (202) 225-5880. His
Springfield office is at 3130 Chatham Road, Suite C, Springfield IL 62704.
The Springfield telephone number is 492-5090, and the fax is 492-5096.
The Web site for LaHood, who is on the same system, is www.house.gov/lahood.
His Springfield office is also accepting regular mail, said spokesman Tim
Butler. The Springfield address is 3050 Montvale Drive, Suite D, Springfield
IL 62704. The telephone number is 793-0808, and the fax is 793-9724.
U.S. Rep. Lane Evans, D-Rock Island, is not on the same Web system. Spokesman
Steve Vetzner said the best way to communicate with Evans is to send regular
mail to his district office at 1535 47th Ave., Suite 5, Moline IL 61265.
Evans can also be sent e-mail at lane.evans@mail.house.gov.
Evans' 17th Congressional District will take in part of Springfield when
redistricting takes effect with the 2002 elections.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, a Springfield Democrat, can be reached in Washington,
D.C., at (202) 228-0400 or in Springfield at 525 S. Eighth St., Springfield
IL 62703. The Springfield telephone number is 492-4062, and the fax is
492-4382. Durbin's Web site is http://durbin.senate.gov, and his e-mail is
dick@durbin.senate.gov.
U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald, R-Ill., can be reached in Washington at (202)
224-2854. His Springfield address is 520 S. Eighth St., Springfield IL 62703.
The Springfield telephone number is 492-5089, and the fax number is 492-5099.
Fitzgerald's Web site is http://fitzgerald.senate.gov, and his e-mail is
senator_fitzgerald@fitzgerald.senate.gov.