A concept that seems as old as time is that of a representative who is elected or appointed but then does not adequately serve his or her constituents. In a nation like ours, we have recourse in a situation like that — vote for someone else in the future in the effort to expel the negligent representative or the one who appointed them.

But I am grateful for elected and appointed officials who do show their faces, express an active interest in the issues that impact localities in their districts and then follow through to help those localities address those issues.

Virginia’s 5th Congressional District Rep. Denver Riggleman recently demonstrated the first and second of those characteristics, and we hope, in due time, he will demonstrate the third as well. The same praise and hope can be directed toward U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, with the ability to highlight some follow through, too.

I would like to express gratitude to Riggleman for recently visiting the Piedmont Senior Resources Area Agency on Aging (PSR). As Staff Reporter Emily Hollingsworth noted, he toured the office, saw prepared meals that are given to senior citizens in the region, spoke with PSR leadership, visited seniors in the Farmville area and helped deliver meals.

Warner visited Lunenburg County leaders and residents on June 7 at the Kenbridge Town Hall, which Emily also reported. He and residents discussed health care, broadband access, public school funding and economic development.

Jay Stafford, CEO of Benchmark Bank, thanked Warner for past advocacy for banks in rural areas and spoke about the struggle of smaller banks to stay afloat, citing recent closures or merges with larger banking organizations.

Later in the discussion, Warner agreed that rural areas in particular faced a disadvantage with grant funding and said that he could collaborate with the county and the Commonwealth Regional Council to help work through the challenges.

I commend Warner, Riggleman and other officials like them who take the important first steps necessary to ultimately make a difference in the districts they represent.

Titus Mohler is the sports editor for The Kenbridge-Victoria Dispatch and Farmville Newsmedia LLC. His email address is Titus.Mohler@KVDispatch.com.