BELTON, Texas (KXXV) — Around 150 constituents gathered on the courthouse lawn for a People's Town Hall on March 22, 2025, after U.S. Rep. John Carter declined to hold one himself.
Indivisible CenTex organized the event, which provided a platform for community members to voice concerns about healthcare, public education, veterans' services, and government accountability.
Carter did not attend despite repeated invitations, continuing a pattern of avoiding direct engagement.
Speakers including Dawn Richardson, Jennifer Lee, Stuart Whitlow, and Chris Gruber addressed the crowd in his absence. Texas Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, made a surprise visit to engage with constituents.
"Representation is not a privilege—it's a right," Indivisible CenTex founder Sarah Cox said.
Attendees displayed a life-size decoy of Carter to highlight his absence. Organizers said they will continue pushing for accountability and voter engagement before the next election.
