With all the recent controversy regarding a proposed health care bill in Congress, many members of the U.S. House of Representatives have been reluctant to venture out among voters. For Rep. Nick Joe Rahall, the atmosphere in Boone County at a weekend gathering was extremely cordial, and the congressman said he was "among friends." During the August summer break, members of congress from across the nation have held town meetings with their constituents regarding changes in public health care. Many if not the majority of those meetings have been without controversy. Many voters have questioned their congressional representatives about the proposed bill and have by in large expressed their serious concerns. Rep. Rahall is planning such meetings around the state in coming weeks, and said he was "looking forward to meeting the voters." During a picnic held by the Boone County Democrat Executive Committee, Rahall spoke to an audience of long-time Democrat voters who have supported him for the 17 years he has represented their county in congress. "I totally understand the concerns about health care legislation," Rahall told the audience. "We still don’t understand what will be in the final bill, but I’m sure the final outcome will be something we can all work with." Rahall said. "The information out there in the public about the bill is not totally correct and we have to work to let the public know what’s in there." The congressman said he "has worked with the people of Boone County and Southern West Virginia since he was elected to help preserve and defend the coal mining industry and to protect the jobs of miners in the area. We have worked hard to make things better for everyone here." Boone County is one of the most powerful strongholds of Democrat voters in the state and the county’s Democrat Executive Committee has worked to exploit that for residents, according to Democrat Chairwoman Sue Ann Zickefoose. "Our representatives in the Boone County Commission and the West Virginia Legislatures are constantly working to tap into the ever decreasing amounts of state and federal dollars out there for county projects." Zickefoose said that county water system, which is overwhelmingly complete will "help increase the value of homes across the county, enhance the health and safety of residents and make Boone County more attractive to businesses looking to move to our area." cutlines Circuit Judge Will Thompson and his daughter Grace were among the families attending the Democrat Executive Committee Picnic, held on Sunday at Water Ways Park.