For a few months while he is in Iraq as a Colonel with the Army Reserve, State Representative Joe Rice(D-Arapahoe County) won't be able to talk to his constituents face-to-face, but he is still keeping in touch.

He has sent home to family and friends his photos and his personal on-the-ground insights of his experiences in Iraq. While off duty, he even somehow manages to return emails, texts and phone calls from his base in Baghdad. And since he's not able to attend his standard monthly town hall meetings, he asked the Speaker of the Colorado House to be there in his stead. Speaker Terrance Carroll will share legislative updates with Rep. Rice's constituents and will pass their questions and concerns back to him overseas.

Before he left for Iraq, Rep. Rice said, "I think it is important to be in touch with the people in House District 38. At our town halls, the people in my district always come with thoughtful questions and comments, and I always leave with new ideas about how to move Colorado forward. Some of my best legislative ideas have come from ideas brought to me by constituents."

WHAT: An In Absentia Town Hall for Rep. Joe Rice

WHO: Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll

WHEN: 10:00 AM on Saturday, July 11, 2009

WHERE: Bemis Public Library www.littletongov.org/Bemis
6014 S. Datura Street, downtown Littleton, 80120

The event is free and open to the public. Coffee and snacks are available in the library.