Discarded mail, empty chairs: What constituents found inside Steube's Venice district office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APRIL 6, 2026

Congressman Greg Steube’s Venice office at Venice City Hall, April 3, 2026. (Allen Spence).

VENICE, Fla. (April 6, 2026) — On Friday, April 3, constituents attempting to deliver a letter to Congressman Greg Steube’s Venice district office were escorted by a junior City Hall staffer to a room labeled as “Storage” on the outside, pictured above, and in disarray, before being turned away—raising serious concerns about transparency, accessibility and constituent services.

Despite confirming in advance that the office would be open, visitors were asked to leave upon discovering the space advertised as Rep. Steube’s official Venice district office. After briefly observing the interior, constituents found the office disorganized and neglected, with chairs pushed against walls and a cluttered desk containing what appeared to be unattended constituent mail.

“It was one of the most disorganized offices I’ve ever seen,” said Steve Montgomery, a North Port resident. “There was constituent mail left out like it didn’t matter. It raises real concerns about whether people’s voices are being heard at all.”

A senior staffer at Venice City Hall confirmed that Congressman Steube has not been present at the Venice office since July 2024, despite the office continuing to be listed on his official website as available to serve the public.

“He does not care about the letters you send him—I saw them there, discarded,” said Allen Spence, Democratic candidate for Florida's 17th Congressional District. “That’s not the kind of leadership we need. Our representative should meet with constituents and talk with them, whether he agrees with them or not.”

The incident has intensified concerns among residents across Southwest Florida, many of whom report difficulty engaging with their representative. Rep. Steube has held no town halls since taking office in 2019. Advocates stress that access to elected officials is a fundamental component of representative democracy, regardless of political differences.

“Our representative should be meeting with constituents and listening to them,” said Mr. Spence. “That’s the basic responsibility of the job.”

In response, a complaint was filed with the U.S. House Ethics Committee citing the alleged misrepresentation of the office’s accessibility and broader concerns about constituent engagement.

Efforts are underway to deliver the letter to alternative district offices in Sarasota and Punta Gorda.

“We’re going to figure out how to get this letter delivered,” said Mr. Spence. “But more importantly, this district deserves a representative who shows up, listens and does the job.”

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