Swalwell Launches 'Mobile Congress'

Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) video conferenced into a Fremont City Council meeting earlier this week as part of his “Mobile Congress” plan.

Swalwell’s Mobile Congress is an effort to make himself more accessible to his constituents through the use of social media and technology.

The congressman called into the Tuesday night meeting from Washington, D.C. using popular video conferencing program Skype. Swalwell took questions from Fremont Mayor Bill Harrison and other council members.

The action made him the first congressman to video conference into a city council meeting, according to Swalwell’s staff.

Swalwell, a former Dublin City Council member, said he will continue to Skype into meetings so he can stay engaged with the communities in his district.

“Just because I am in Washington, DC does not mean that the work at home stops.  I want to stay as close to the district as possible even when 3,000 miles away,” Swalwell said in a statement.