Reps. Raul Grijalva, Martha McSally to visit Tucson next week

With Congress not in session next week, local members of Congress will be holding meetings in Tucson.

Many meetings are invitation-only — but there will be a few opportunities to talk politics even if you don’t get an invite.

Rep. Raúl Grijalva announced plans for seven invite-only round-table discussions on education, immigration and the environment next week, but also will address the Democrats of Greater Tucson on Monday.

The event, which starts at noon, is open to the public, but a minimum purchase of a $2.50 beverage is required to enter the Dragon’s View Restaurant. It is west of downtown at 400 N. Bonita Ave.

Rep. Martha McSally is also expected to announce some meetings with constituents next week, but details were still being finalized as of Friday evening.

Up to 400 people might attend a town hall next week even though the invited guest — McSally — has repeatedly said she won’t be there.

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Public interest in the two-hour town hall Feb. 23 at 5:30 p.m. at St. Francis in the Foothills United Methodist Church, 4625 E. River Road, is so great that organizers have had to create a waiting list.

Marion Chubon, the leader of the group “McSally Take a Stand,” said she sat down with the two-term Republican a week ago in an attempt to persuade McSally to participate.

The congresswoman, who represents District 2, said she would not attend the town hall but left the door open to a similar event in the future, Chubon said. Audience questions for McSally will be addressed to an empty chair, Chubon said. McSally has said the town hall is a ruse that activists are using to berate members of Congress.

McSally maintains that she has repeatedly met with community members in public forums since taking office in 2015.

Her staff earlier released a list showing the congresswoman has met with constituents about 30 times in town-hall settings since taking office, and she has held two telephone town halls in the last two weeks.

Chubon and other locals remain undeterred. They argue that McSally refuses to answer specific questions and they receive form letters in response to their emails and letters.