Senator Durbin to open office in Rock Island

U.S. Sen. DickDurbin, D-Ill., will have more representation in western Illinois with the opening Tuesday of his new office in Rock Island.

The office, 1504 3rd Ave., Suite 221, will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday though Friday beginning Tuesday. A open house will be held from 1-2:30 p.m. Tuesday, andDurbin will be available at 2 p.m.

The office, which will cover residents of 20 counties in western and central Illinois, will be staffed byDurbin’s Western Illinois outreach coordinator, Brad Middleton, and Kate Jennings, a veteran senate aide.

Christina Angarola, a spokeswoman forDurbin’s office, said Middleton and Jennings will be available for casework for Illinois constituents.

“Basically, our staff will serve as a liaison between the constituent and any agency in the federal government,” Angarola said. “So if, for instance, a senior was having issues with Social Security, they can come to our office, and we will contact the Social Security agency for them. We can help streamline the process and resolve problems they may have.”

Middleton and Jennings also will be able to representDurbin at local meetings and work with local, county and state agencies.

“It’s a really important region where we often send representatives to meetings,” Angarola said. “Now, we’ll have a few staffers in town who can more easily get to those things and represent the senator.”