Vic Snyder was non-traditional in that he declined campaign contributions until ninety days before elections, and he tackled tough and often politically unpopular issues during his time in office. Likewise, his community engagement efforts throughout the Second District were unorthodox.
HOSTING COMMUNITY
Office Hours
For example, Snyder used community office hours as a way to meet with constituents, help them with casework, and engage the younger generation in government. Community office hours were a way for Snyder to offer constituent services. Constituents lined up at their local grocery stores, cafes, and events where office hours were held to receive assistance with federal agencies, saving themselves a trip to Little Rock in the process. Some constituents brought paperwork detailing concerns with Social Security or veterans' benefits, while others asked for help with small business documents, missing records, or passports.
When Congress recessed in July and December, Snyder hosted community office hours throughout the eight counties that made up Arkansas’s Second Congressional District. The hours-long events were scheduled sometimes four per day. For example, Snyder might hear from constituents in North Little Rock before traveling to Beebe, Searcy, and Rosebud. Snyder held the first community office hours during his first term in 1997, and he considered the one-on-one interactions a great way to learn what was on the mind of people in his district.
CONNECTING WITH
Young People
Congressman Snyder also used community office hours to connect with young people. If a teenager accompanied their parents to community office hours, Snyder made a point to invite them to apply for an internship at his Little Rock or Washington, D.C., offices. In addition, he hosted an annual congressional art competition, offering high school students in the second district complimentary airfare to fly to Washington, D.C., and see their winning piece displayed near the U.S. Capitol.
MEETINGS AT THE
Military Bases
Since Central Arkansas is home to both the U.S. Air Force and the Arkansas National Guard, Snyder spent a lot of time at the Little Rock Air Force Base and Camp Robinson, respectively. A former Marine himself, Snyder very much considered service members from out-of-district and out-of-state his own constituents while they were stationed in Arkansas.
ATTENDING
Local Events
Outside of his official duties, Snyder enjoyed having fun with his fellow Arkansans and discovering each town’s hidden gems. Rather than staying in Washington, Snyder returned to Arkansas each weekend where he spent his time outdoors or at local events such as town festivals, art exhibits, and parades. During Congressional recesses, he traveled throughout the district to visit farms and new businesses and to sample the towns’ best pies. He enjoyed spaghetti suppers and fish fries from Bee Branch to Benton, and he raced toads at Conway’s Toad Suck Daze. He might drive from a church service in southwest Little Rock to the chuckwagon races in Clinton, clad in a button-down shirt (no tie) and faded blue jeans.
Whether hosting community office hours, meeting with personnel at the military base, or attending local events, Snyder connected with his constituents and used these experiences to better represent Arkansas’s second district in Congress.
For More Information:
Peppas, Jeremy. “Snyder has 'office hours' in Rose Bud.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, August 26, 2007. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2007/aug/26/snyder-has-office-hours-rose-bud-20070826/.
About the Author:
Jen Holman worked for Congressman Snyder for several years in both his Little Rock and Washington, D.C., offices, serving as his press secretary and Washington scheduler. She spends much of her time volunteering for her three children’s public schools. Jen has a master’s degree from UA Little Rock, is a former director of Arkansas Literacy Councils, and has published a handful of fiction novels.