FYI

The average volume of e-mail public officials get (both from constituants, related to duties, and spam) is on the order of 450 per hour I last heard (24 hours a day).
There are not enough people on anyone's staff to see that many e-mails and properly handle/respond to them.
Apparently the tried and true method of writing letters (maybe done on a computer and printing them out) and sending it in OR phoning up and telling them on the phone are much, much more effective and the officials respond quicker to someone who takes the time to use snail-mail or phone.
It may not be right that e-mail is of lower importance, but it is what is happening.
If you send an e-mail, print it out and put it in an envelope and add a stamp to mail it also. It never hurts to have the political official think there is twice the interest.
DvV