Frustration over government mandates, mail delays and ballooning tax bills filled the room during a recent meet-and-greet with Missouri’s District 53 Representative Terry Thompson. The representative responded with a frank assessment of where things stand and where he believes they should go. “We want to hear from you,” said Thompson, who represents parts of Ray and Lafayette counties. “I know you want to hear from us, and we’ll look at the issues and build a relationship.” Thompson spent more than an hour reviewing this year’s legislative session and responding to questions from residents and officials. He stressed communication – or the lack of it – remains one of the biggest hurdles in government. “The more we mandate the schools, the hospitals and the city, we’re going to lose a little bit more of the rural community each time,” stated Thompson. “We’ve got to work with you. We’ve got to listen to you.” Many of his constituents reported significant and sudden property tax…