Oct 28, 2014 2 min read

CALIFORNIA – U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster made two campaign stops Tuesday in California Borough in what were his first local media events since portions of the Mon Valley became part of his district in 2013.

Shuster, R-9th District, delivered a $110,200 federal grant to California Volunteer Fire Department before touring the Center in the Woods, where he held a brief, impromptu town hall meeting with senior citizens.

“I am your chief customer service representative for the federal government,” said Shuster, who represents a district that stretches through 11 counties from the Mon Valley to Chambersburg.

He said it takes him nearly 3 1/2 hours to travel the width of his district after its borders were redrawn by Congress following the 2010 census.

Shuster is facing Democratic challenger Alanna Hartzok in Tuesday’s election.

The grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will allow the borough’s fire department to purchase self-contained breathing apparatus.

While at the senior center, he heard from its director about the need for Medicare to pay for adult day-care services, said Shuster’s district director, Jim Frank. The center operates the program that allows caregivers free time while their relatives with dementia are in a safe, supervised environment.

Frank said Shuster was in the Mon Valley before, visiting Monongahela and Charleroi, without holding media events.