When Herbert S. Denenberg was Pennsylvania's insurance commissioner in the 1970s, he set up a system whereby department representatives would visit the various counties and make themselves available to people with insurance problems.

That program worked, especially since the department's representatives' availability was well publicized.

The 3rd Congressional District's new congresswoman, Kathy Dahlkemper, is installing a similar system for the district's seven counties, having opted not to open district offices in each of the counties. It's a plan that presumably could save money and which has the potential of keeping in closer touch with constituents than the office system used by most other representatives, including her predecessor, Phil English.

That will depend on whether her and her representatives' availability at various locations in each county is adequately advertised.

Understandably, there will be people who would prefer Dahlkemper having an office in each county (English's Butler County office was in downtown Butler), but they should keep an open mind regarding the plan the new congresswoman is putting in place.

Dahlkemper's district congressional office will be in the Intermodal Transportation Center at 208 E. Bayfront Parkway in Erie.

There are two parts to Dalhkemper's commitment to being available to her constituents.

First, she will have two directors who will work with leaders in government and with the private and nonprofit sectors to maximize opportunities for growth.

"Without ever losing sight of constituent needs, we will now present leadership that is focused on growth and solutions that will work with government and businesses alike in an effort to ensure that the 3rd District is not only able to take advantage of every opportunity that arises, but is also able to make opportunity happen," Dahlkemper was quoted as saying, in an article in the Dec. 26 edition of the Butler Eagle.

When English, who served 14 years in Congress prior to being defeated by Dahlkemper in November, was interviewed at the Eagle in the days before the election, he said part of his problem in trying to obtain money for the district was Butler County municipal leaders not coming forward with projects for him to seek funding. It is to be hoped that will change with Dahlkemper's new plan for keeping in close contact with leaders.

The second part of Dahlkemper's plan for representing the district has been dubbed "Congress in the Community." It will involve a regional representative making regular visits to what have been described as guest offices in each of the seven counties.

As for Dahlkemper, the congresswoman intends to make herself available by way of weekend trips through the district.

"I will . . . set up a 'visitor booth' in grocery stores, malls — wherever the public gathers — to make it as easy as possible for them to talk to me about their needs and concerns,"she said.

Residents of the 3rd District should keep an open mind about the new system Dahlkemper is putting in place, and shouldn't be shy about going to meet the congresswoman when she is here and making their concerns known. Her availability outside an office setting should provide a more relaxed atmosphere for getting to know her and expressing opinions.

Oftentimes change is good. The next two years will provide plenty of opportunity for constituents to judge the effectiveness of what Dahlkemper is implementing.