Congressional candidate hosting online town hall

EPHRATA - Ephrata Republican Gavin Seim, a candidate for the state's Fourth Congressional seat, is holding an online town hall event Thursday.

Seim, who announced his candidacy in 2013 before Rep. Doc Hastings announced he will not seek re-election, will be taking questions live beginning at 7:05 p.m. Thursday. To participate in the online conversation, go to www.callmegav.com/live at the listed time.

Seim, 29, said he is committed to opening up a higher level of communication in the seat.

"I will vote with the Constitution. That's my word," he said. "But I will do more than that. I'm going to use my communication experience to start conversations. Both during the campaign and after, we're going to leverage a degree of communication that people are not used to from government."

Seim, a portraitist and filmmaker, has been traveling to several events throughout the district in recent weeks, focused on combining face-to-face conversations with new media including a blog on his website, to get people involved and aware of what government is doing. Former state senator Harold Hochstatter has endorsed Seim.

"We have a congress of legislative eunuchs," Hochstatter said. "It's time to fix that with courage in the heart and fire in the belly. Gavin Seim is a man that will take that head on."

Seim said he will continue to carry the message of liberty around the district and as the first contender for the seat, he is hopeful for a strong lead at the primary election in August.