8th District U.S. Representative Chip Cravaack's family moves to New Hampshire

Several news outlets this week are reporting that Minnesota 8th District U.S. Representative Chip Cravaack's family is moving to New Hampshire to be closer to his wife's New England-based job.

According to MinnPost, "[t]he couple will sell their Lindstrom, Minn., home and buy a new one in North Branch. Cravaack will generally spend Saturdays and district work weeks in the district and spend Sundays with his family, either in Minnesota or New Hampshire."

Residents of the 8th District are already expressing concerns that Rep. Cravaack will not be able to serve the district as well as if he lived here full time with his family. As Minnesota Public Radio reports, "[m]any people said they voted for Cravaack because they felt incumbent DFL congressman Jim Oberstar had become detached from the issues of the largely rural district."

The story continues:

Congress-watcher Norman Ornstein from the American Enterprise Institute said he would not be surprised if a Republican decided to challenge Cravaack in the primary. Ornstein has written about the challenges people in Congress face as they try to maintain a balance between Washington and their home districts, and between work and family. He said Cravaack's decision to split his life three ways could send a signal that he's ambivalent about his job.

Cravaack's move raises questions about his commitment to his own district. How can he sufficiently represent us when he's splitting time between North Branch, Washington D.C., and now New Hampshire?

"He says he's a father first, he seems to be trying to have his cake and eat it too," said International Falls resident Diane Adams to MPR. "If his family is in New Hampshire you should resign and join your family."

You can listen to the entire MPR story here: