Emily Thompson, right, hands Sen. Cory Gardner’s Durango representative, Ann McCoy Harold, left, a petition with more than 15,000 signatures gathered from across the state asking for an in-state town hall meeting, as well as a Valentine’s Day inspired “Make a date with Colorado” sign.

Jonathan Romeo/Durango Herald/

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Emily Thompson, right, hands Sen. Cory Gardner’s Durango representative, Ann McCoy Harold, left, a petition with more than 15,000 signatures gathered from across the state asking for an in-state town hall meeting, as well as a Valentine’s Day inspired “Make a date with Colorado” sign.

Jonathan Romeo/Durango Herald/

A handful of constituents in Southwest Colorado on Monday delivered more than 15,000-combined petition signatures to Sen. Cory Gardner’s Durango office demanding he schedule in-state town hall meetings.

The petition was a statewide effort as some Colorado residents claim Gardner has been unresponsive to their concerns with recent issues regarding the Trump administration’s nominees, executive orders and policies.

Ann McCoy Harold, Gardner’s Durango representative, said the Republican senator has been inundated with thousands of calls and emails from in- and out-of-state citizens. His offices across the state and Washington D.C. have been adding phone lines to respond to the influx.

Those in attendance on Monday asked McCoy Harold to contact Gardner’s representatives in Washington D.C. with the hopes of scheduling a public meeting during the upcoming congressional recess.

jromeo@durangoherald.com