Parked in front of the Veterans Restoration Headquarters outside Asheville, a black Camper Van was draped with a banner that read, “Congressman Chuck Edwards Representing North Carolina’s 11th District." Inside, a sink, mini fridge and stovetop led to two beige couches, and a television on a swivel extended from the faux wood wall. The vehicle is more than transportation; it serves as Edwards' new mobile office for 11th district constituents.
"I'm excited to be able to bring this type of vehicle to provide services to the constituents, the citizens in Western North Carolina in a way that we've never been able to do before," Edwards said.
His office said the unit is the only mobile district office of this type in the country.
"We've seen that the strategy of leasing a bunch of offices around 15 counties and staffing those offices comes at a great expense and is highly inefficient because we're looking for people to come and find us in the back room of a dark courthouse," Edwards said. "This mobile office will allow us to get out amongst the people and, make it far, far easier for them to find us so that we can help them with their issues."
The idea of a mobile office is not new. “Congressmobiles” started in the 1950s. Dozens of representatives used mobile offices throughout the late 1900's to meet their constituents at diners, campgrounds and fairgrounds, according to a history of the practice from the U.S. House of Representative’s Archives.
"Using recreational vehicles, Members could reach constituents far from district offices," the Archives reported. "They became part of campaigns, demonstrating to voters that a candidate would go the extra mile."
The practice waned in the late 1970's when gas prices skyrocketed, according to the Archives.
"I'm not familiar with any of those stories. What I know is that my team, my staff has worked diligently to make this vision a reality, and they've got the passion and the commitment to make it work," Edwards said.
His mobile office is an upgrade from the campers, buses and RVs of earlier years. A Thor Dodge Ram Class B (Sequence) van, the model starts at about $134,000. The office is leasing the van for around $1,400 a month, Edwards said. The funds come from his representational allowance, an amount of government funds each lawmaker receives to pay for their offices, staff salaries and vehicles for government business.
"It's actually less than we're paying for our lease for the brick-and-mortar office that we have in Henderson County. I think this is a very efficient way to bring government to the people," he said. "We are proud that we've found a very unique way to serve folks in a way that they've not been able to get service in the past."
When the House first permitted lawmakers to use official funds for mobile offices in the 1970s, specific rules were established for the practice. The regulations are similar to those for lease of a vehicle, but the mobile office can go beyond the $1,000 monthly limit a member typically receives for a vehicle lease.
Vehicle leases also have to comply with certain EPA requirements including that the vehicle be on the list of "low greenhouse gas emitting vehicles," but the requirements may be waived for mobile offices. Edwards' office received the necessary sign-offs from the Office of Administrative Counsel, he said. The office declined to comment on specifics of the lease terms.
Questions about spending and accessibility
Critics of the unit raised concerns about the cost to taxpayers. When asked about gas prices for the vehicle, Edwards said the return on investment makes the van worth it.
"We've got to look at this in more of a macro sense and not get caught up in the fact that, this is gonna cost some insurance, or this might cost a couple of gallons of gas," he said.
The office will also be useful during emergency situations like flooding, according to Edwards.
"If there were to be a major flood in a particular county, or if a county were to lose water service, or if we were to have wildfires, we'll be able to be flexible and very quickly get to where our help is needed," he said.
Edwards office is using the new unit to engage constituents by asking for their recommendations for a vehicle name. The deadline for suggestions is the end of February.
Other government entities in Western North Carolina use mobile services. The NC DMV began using mobile unit visits to various rural areas of NC, including Graham County, began in early 2016. Graham County doesn’t have a brick and mortar drivers license facility but it does have a tag office.
The monthly mobile unit visits to Robbinsville were suspended in the spring of 2020 due to the pandemic, according to an NC DOT spokesperson.
The long lines outside the mobile DMV spring to mind when Graham GOP chair Steve Odom thinks about Edwards new office.
“It was not very popular," he said. "You have to stand out in the weather, stand outside to wait your turn to get in. It’s hard on older folks and on disabled people."
Odom also expressed concern about how people with disabilities will be able to enter the mobile office. When asked about the ADA compliance of the mobile office, Edwards office said they will make adjustments such as a having a table outside for constituents.
Odom also has concerns about the privacy of those sharing their needs with the Congressman’s office.
“I commend him for trying to do that," he said. "I’m just not convinced that they are going about it the right way in these far western counties."
Larry Ford, vice chair of the Clay County Republican Party, thinks the unit makes the congressman’s office more accessible for folks across the district.
“Rather than having three or four offices scattered around the district where some folks would have to travel some distance to get to," he said "It’s going to be a great way to deliver those services to those people in the district who really need it the most.”
Constituent needs
During the visit at the VA Restoration Headquarters in Asheville, Edwards office took 14 veterans cases including Anthony Rivers, a 60-year-old resident of the Headquarters.
Rivers, who uses a cane and has difficulty writing due to a spinal injury, met with a staffer at a table inside the headquarters to fill out forms. He applied for VA disability service but hasn’t heard back in two months.
“My back injury is not getting any better and I’m just worried about the future," he said.
His injury stems from combat training in the Army, he said. He hopes Edwards involvement will move his case along.
A number of his staff members are insured to drive the van, Edwards said. One of the staffers at the van event was his new regional representative, Tommy Laughter, former manager of Crooked Creek Golf Club in Hendersonville. He previously served on the Henderson County Planning Board with Edwards.
“I’m so fortunate that he was willing to set aside his other career and come help me serve the people here in these mountains," Edwards said.
Edwards declined to comment on the departure of his prior regional representative, Brittany Lofthouse, whose tenure lasted less than two weeks. There are still vacancies in the office, he said.
While he believes the van will make a difference, Edwards said he is exploring other office options and may still open other district offices in the region.
The mobile office is scheduled to visit Yancey County on Wednesday and then Haywood, Jackson and Macon Counties on Thursday. Constituents can find the schedule on the Congressman’s website under events.
