EDWARDSBURG — Republican congressional candidate Jack Hoogendyk spent nearly two hours Tuesday morning talking to about a half dozen constituents at the Maple Cafe in Edwardsburg.

Hoogendyk, who is opposing incumbent Fred Upton for the 6th District congressional primary, listened to residents’ concerns about rising gasoline prices, perceived problems with the welfare system and government spending.

“There is no better way to understand what the people in your district are going through and what they need than to sit here and talk to them and get to know them,” said Hoogendyk, who earned 43 percent of the vote when he ran unsuccessfully against Upton in the 2010 primary. Hoogendyk said his opponent is out of touch with the people of the 6th District.

“We have a congressman who has been working and, for much of his time, living in Washington for 37 years. Does he really understand from personal experience what it is like?” Hoggendyk said.

Hoogendyk says government is too big, too powerful and spends too much money. He said his beliefs are in line with the country’s founding fathers, which wrote the constitution in an attempt to limit the power of government.

“Government has figured out how to consolidate power to itself and you have people serving in office who convey that they know better than you how to run your own life,” Hoogendyk said.