U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly and Glenn Thompson declined invitations to address constituents' concerns at a town-hall meeting scheduled for Tuesday night.

Erie County's congressmen turned down a chance to meet constituents Tuesday night at the H.O. Hirt Auditorium, where more than 200 people gathered for a town-hall style event to voice concerns about their representation in Congress.

Organizers had invited U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, the Butler County Republican whose 3rd district includes the city of Erie, so that he would answer questions about his stance on refugees, immigration and health care policy. The invitation was also extended to Republican U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, of Centre County, whose 5th congressional district includes eastern and central Erie County.

"From attacks on health care, attacks on immigrants and refugees, to attacks on Wall Street reforms, the people are fed up," said event-planner Daniel Doubet earlier this month when members of Keystone Progress, the progressive organization he works for, petitioned Kelly to come to Erie.

Congress is in recess this week, and many federal lawmakers are addressing constituents' concerns at town halls throughout the country. Kelly declined the local invitation, as did Thompson.

Kelly's spokesman, Thomas Qualtere, said Kelly's office evaluated the request with "clear eyes and common sense."

"It is apparent that the event is a political demonstration hosted by a partisan organization not meant to inform constituents but to create a spectacle," Qualtere told the Erie Times-News last week.

Thompson's spokeswoman, Renee Gamela, echoed Qualtere and said Thompson is one of the most accessible members of Congress.

"Congressman Thompson is going remain focused on serving the people of Erie County, but he will not provide a venue for a few activists representing an extreme special interest group to create a spectacle," Gamela said.

Qualtere cited recent town halls, where Republican lawmakers faced questions from constituents angry about their efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, became disruptive and served little purpose. Erie residents can speak to Kelly over the phone next week during a "tele-town hall," he said.

But some who had planned on attending the Tuesday night event said that format makes it easier for congressmen to control the conversation and avoid answering hard questions.

"Mike Kelly promised way back in the day to hold regular town hall meetings with voters, but he has not," said Jason Boyd, 48, of Erie.

Organizers placed a small table with two seats on the stage at Hirt Auditorium. Two large white placards were placed on the table, one with Kelly's name, the other with Thompson's name.

Erie resident Cindy Purvis, 65, attended Tuesday's town-hall event because she said she wished to talk to Kelly.

"They obviously don't want to hear from us,'' Purvis said. "Why is it that our elected officials don't want to hear from the citizens they represent? Is that sending a message they don't want to represent us?

Purvis said the most important issue on her agenda is health care.

"Everyone is scared to death that they're going to lose their health care, and our representatives haven't told us yet what they're replacing it with, and are they guaranteeing that we won't lose some of the strides and protections we were given under the Affordable Care Act,'' Purvis said. "I think the Affordable Care Act has a lot of problems, but it gave a lot of people health care that didn't have it before. ... How ridiculous is it that they're not guaranteeing us and leaving us wondering what's going on? This is our country. Why do we have to wonder what's going on.''

Stephanie Phillips, 60, of Lawrence Park Township, said the region's congressmen have done little to help Erie.

"The current situation does not favor residents in any way and the current leaders have built a system of resentment for government that is untenable," Phillips said. "Divisive talk from our representatives and meaningless chatter on social media adds to the disrespect we have for them."

Qualtere said Kelly cut back on holding traditional town halls because they can be inconvenient for constituents, especially senior citizens. The last one he held in Erie was in August 2015, although its express purpose was to address veterans issues. The last tele-town hall was in November and more than 3,000 people participated, Qualtere said.

Thompson's office did not respond to a request for information about town halls he has held in Erie County.

Kelly and Thompson have attended various functions in Erie County in recent months, although they weren't always open to the public.

"Since taking office six years ago, Rep. Kelly has maintained a constant travel schedule throughout the 3rd District to visit different schools, businesses, hospitals, factories, veterans’ halls, sporting events, and other places where his constituents work and spend time," Qualtere said. "This includes hundreds of visits to Erie."

Nico Salvatori can be reached at 870-1714 or by email. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNsalvatori.