Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Carey's office never posted call-in information for a Tuesday "tele-town hall" publicly, despite telling his social media followers he would do so.
The 5:30 p.m. town hall was livestreamed on Facebook and allowed viewers to ask questions through a live chat or click a link to ask questions. The virtual participants could take part in polls the office created on a variety of political issues.
Even though the call-in information was never posted, some callers were able to ask Carey questions. WOSU spoke to far south end Columbus resident Ben Feree, a registered Democrat, who said Carey's office sent him an unsolicited text message ahead of time stating that he'd be contacted by the office to participate in the town hall.
"I got the sense that they were really trying to only answer questions that they wanted to answer," Feree said. "Like only have the questions asked that they want to have asked. To, I think, try to avoid the embarrassment that we've seen from maybe other town halls."
Feree, 35, said he doesn't feel like this was a true public town hall and would prefer an in-person event.
"I think in person town halls give the candidate a little bit less control. And I do like that. It gives a little more power to the people," Feree said.
Carey, a German Village resident, posted to social media the previous week that he'd be holding the town hall. He then posted on Thursday to "Stay tuned for call-in information on my X and Facebook accounts. I will post the information shortly before the event."
That information was never posted. The livestream appeared on Facebook shortly after the 5:30 p.m. start time without any notice posted that day.
Carey fielded a number of questions from callers or questions that were selected from the Facebook comments.
These included questions on immigration, his thoughts on Trump's tariffs and the opioid epidemic.
The only question that was critical of the Trump administration or Republicans asked about the economy. The person pointed out Trump promised a "booming economy," but so far it's been underwhelming. He asked when the U.S. will see a booming economy and lower interest rates.
Carey responded, saying he thinks Trump has done everything he can do. He said if Congress can pass a reconciliation bill soon, that will help.
"I think this will add growth. I think people will see our country as a place to continue to invest in money," Carey said.
Carey then pivoted to criticize the country's debt.
Carey's town hall occurred as some Republican congressmembers and U.S. senators have held contentious town halls where citizens critical of President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and the federal government have loudly voiced opposition.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson even told GOP lawmakers to skip town halls after an onslaught of protests at the events.
Despite this, U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana and U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, both of whom are Republicans, held town halls. The two were met with the same anger constituents voiced at other town halls prior to Johnson's letter.
Even 92-year-old U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, of Iowa, who is known for visiting all 99 counties to hold in-person events regularly, held an in-person town hall.
Carey represents Ohio's 15th Congressional District, covering parts of downtown Columbus, German Village, Grove City and Dublin and stretching west to Sidney, Ohio.
Carey's congressional district neighbor, Democratic U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty held a town hall that was open to the public at the Columbus Metropolitan Club in February. Beatty fielded multiple questions from a packed room.
Carey's office told WOSU more than 12,000 people participated in his town hall via phone. His office said about 2,000 more joined through a Facebook livestream.
Carey then said in a statement he thought upwards of 60,000 people were reached by the virtual event.
Carey was also asked Tuesday night about his opinions on holding telephone town halls.
"I think tele-town halls are great, because I get a chance to connect with the thousands of people in Ohio's 15th congressional district. There's no doubt about that. And while I'm still here in D.C. because we were voting all the way through today, but it's a great way for us to really connect with our constituents," Carey said.
Carey said he thought his office would need to rent out Ohio Stadium in Columbus to reach all the people who were reached virtually on Tuesday evening.
Carey's office did not answer questions about how people were chosen to participate in the town hall. The office did not address why the call-in information was never posted publicly.
The office also did not say whether Carey agreed with Johnson's directive or whether he ever plans to hold an in-person town hall.
Feree said he wanted to ask Carey's opinions about the Dept. of Govt. Efficiency's cuts and "presuming that he didn't agree with all of the cuts. What, if anything, he would be doing in his power to try and affect some change or try to put some constraints on that."
Feree said he didn't ask the question, because he thought the calls were being screened.
"I don't think any politician would give me an answer that I actually like to hear, nor do I necessarily think that any politician can be trusted heavily at what they say," Feree said.
Columbus resident Alissa Friedman is an organizer with Indivisible Central Ohio. Her group recently organized an "empty chair" town hall last week for Ohio's U.S. senators and central Ohio U.S. representatives.
No politicians showed up to the event, but many were invited. Many who attended used the event to voice their frustrations at Trump and the missing congressmembers, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
Friedman said she watched Carey's town hall on Facebook, but was disappointed by it. She said she was confused about why she didn't receive a text like Feree, because she's received text messages from Carey's office in the past.
"I was disappointed not to be able to ask the real questions that are on all of our minds," Friedman said. "I have a lot of judgment of him for not being willing to face those questions."
Friedman said she would like Carey to answer concerns and questions from his constituents, even if that isn't during an in-person town hall.
Feree said he wants to hear from politicians on what they're willing to do to put a check on the power of President Donald Trump and the executive branch.
Feree said he once was registered as a Republican to vote in their primaries. He said he thinks that's why he was selected to participate.
"What makes me think that this is pre-selected is I don't know anybody else that got a text message like this. I have other people that I know, other people that live in the 15th district that are, to my knowledge, liberal-leaning people that have not gotten these text messages," Feree said.
