Not the first to go on the milk carton but the first to bail on her constituents — and it looks like she’ll have company.  Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, whose decision to duck town-hall forums surprised New Hampshire constituents who remember her pre-election town-hall antics, has decided to grace voters with her presence after all.  However, she’s managed to schedule it at a time next Saturday when activists had planned to be elsewhere:

Multiple sources, including James Pindell at NHPoliticalReport.com, are telling GraniteGrok that our Congresswoman Carol Shea Porter has finally set up some town hall meetings where she will actually meet with real live constituents face to face.

And wouldn’t you know it– RIGHT AT THE SAME TIME THE GRASS ROOTS COMMUNITY OF NH IS SCHEDULED TO GATHER AT A FUNDRAISER/PICNIC FOR THE NEW HAMPSHIRE ADVANTAGE COALITION!

That won’t keep at least one activist away.  Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta has expressed some interest in running against Shea-Porter next year, and he will make the time to use Shea-Porter’s forums to introduce himself more fully to her constituents:

“While I am very pleased that Congresswoman Shea-Porter has finally given in to the wishes of the people and will conduct a town hall on health care, I find it very unfortunate it took a media and public backlash in order to do it.  Carol Shea-Porter, as we’ve been reminded over the past week, made a name for herself by attending and speaking out at town halls conducted by her predecessor.  She refused to offer the same opportunity when she got into office—what a difference a few years in DC made. Our representatives in Washington should make decisions based on what is in the public’s best interest, not simply cave under unexpected and intense scrutiny.

“That being said, I look forward to attending the town hall of my Congresswoman on August 29th and invite her to attend mine, on August 31st.  Let’s make sure we give all citizens the opportunity to voice their opinions, express their concerns and most importantly let’s hope our elected leaders listen to us.”

That should be a familiar process for Shea-Porter.  Before running for Congress, she bragged about annoying her predecessor, Jeb Bradley, at his town-hall forums for not providing answers:

Everything comes back around, doesn’t it?

If any Hot Air readers get the chance to attend Shea-Porter’s town hall, be sure to get some video and tip us when it’s posted. This exchange should be lively.

Don’t worry about attending Rep. Paul Hodes’ forum, however. Granite Grok reports that Hodes is holing up in a union hall for his constituent outreach. Apparently, he feels the need to cocoon himself from the rest of his constituents.