U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, answered more than 60 questions from constituents for two hours during a town hall Friday at the Kingsbury Volunteer Fire Company in Kingsbury. (Provided photo — Kathleen Phalen-Tomaselli, The Post-Star)

KINGSBURY — In one of several town halls recently scheduled for the region, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, took more than 60 questions over two hours from constituents at the volunteer fire company in Kingsbury on Friday.

Moderated by Mike Bittel, president of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce, the forum was structured in a question-and-answer format, allowing each questioner 15 seconds to ask a question, with no rebuttal.

Before drawing the first name, Bittel reminded everyone that he was only the moderator and to assure there was an equal opportunity to ask questions, he would keep things moving.

Questions covered a wide range of issues from the cost of prescription drugs, veteran benefits, tax cuts to corporations, violence against the media, violence against women, the opioid epidemic, the Second Amendment, withdrawal from Syria and the killing of Kurds, the border issue, immigration, building the wall, struggling dairy farms, the whistleblower and the president’s impeachment.

The congresswoman shared her views on these issues, and depending on her response, some cheered, some booed, and others held up signs that read “Agree,” “Disagree” or “Answer the Question.”

“OK, everybody ready to go?” Bittel asked, to get things moving. “OK, I have Jeremy, ticket No. 3155404.”

“Is it OK for me not to show up for a subpoena?” asked Jeremy.

“Of course you should comply with subpoenas, I think, but what’s most important when you’re having impeachment discussions, you have to take a vote for impeachment inquiry,” Stefanik said. “Historically, in this country there have been three instances where the House has pursued impeachment. In each case there has been a vote. … Every member of the American public deserves to know where their member of Congress stands.”

The congresswoman continued, saying that she would vote “No” in a formal vote.

Loud boos, cheers and some standing and clapping resulted.

While there were impassioned views from those pro and against President Donald Trump, the exchange remained relatively civil with police escorting only one Trump supporter out of the event shortly after it began. The man was allowed back into the forum but was escorted out a second time.

At one point, a group of women walked out of the town hall, saying they could not listen to any more of the congresswoman’s responses.

In a meeting with the press prior to the start of the town hall forum, Stefanik fielded a variety of questions.

Regarding the whistleblower and the inspector general, Stefanik said that she believes there should be someone with firsthand knowledge of the incident.

“I think the whistleblower should be protected; my concern with the whistleblower complaint is that there was no direct knowledge,” she said. “I think the IG (inspector general) is absolutely acting in good faith.”

And for nearly two hours a volley of questions from varying viewpoints continued.

At one point, someone in the audience asked Bittel to shuffle the numbers because they thought too many anti-Trump people were getting to ask questions. But in the end, everyone with a question had an opportunity to ask the congresswoman.

There was some discussion for and against the local media, and one man pointed to the importance of the local press, referring to a recent story in The Post-Star about a Hudson Falls firefighter who lost his life in a fire 25 years ago.

Several Trump supporters laughed and expressed their disagreement.

The congresswoman said the press is incredibly important and that she is grateful for diverse local outlooks. And after questions about threats against the press, Stefanik said she condemns any threats of violence.

“I don’t support that. I condemn that, and I think we need to have safe, secure, freedom of speech, and I think we need to have our communities and the physical places where protests are safe for citizens,” she said.

Regarding the president’s call to China to investigate the Bidens, Stefanik said that she did not believe the president was soliciting aid from China.

“His statement was inappropriate, but I don’t think that was a formal request for aid,” she said. “Certainly there are questions that need to be asked about that statement … I don’t think that statement was an impeachable offense. I don’t view that as solicitation or requesting a foreign nation to help your political campaign.”

Additionally, when asked about the president’s impeachment, Stefanik talked about high crimes and misdemeanors.

“Impeachment is a very serious matter. … I have not seen an impeachable offense,” she said, her comments drowned out by a rising chorus of boos and cheers.

During the press gaggle ahead of the town hall, The Post-Star asked the congresswoman, “Did your staff reach out to groups like the North Country Deplorables about this event?”

“Yes, they did,” Stefanik said. “We promote this event publicly, make this event available to anybody. We call hundreds of people … and you’re going to see, I assume, in the questions that there is a variety and a diversity of ideological viewpoints. I took very tough questions in Johnstown, and I anticipate tough questions from anti-Trump folks and Trump supporters.”

Near the end of the event, a woman named Beth asked a similar question.

“Did you or Alex deGrasse reach out to certain groups and personally invite them?” Beth asked. “We have a huge problem in Glens Falls; there is a tremendous amount of divisiveness, name calling, threats in private messages.”

The woman was referring to a statement posted Wednesday on social media and in a taped interview on North Country Public Radio by the head of the North Country Deplorables, a local pro-Trump group, that he had been contacted by deGrasse, a member of Stefanik’s senior staff.

According to the man from the Deplorables, deGrasse had contacted him on behalf of the congresswoman to thank him for his support and urged him to arrive early to pack the house with Trump supporters.

“I did not personally,” Stefanik said in response to Beth’s question.

“Did you or Alex deGrasse reach out to these groups, and secondly to thank them for helping you in defending against socialism?” she asked again.

“This is an open public event. It was publicized at the same time for everyone across the district. We make hundreds and hundreds of calls to groups across this district,” Stefanik said. “We want to have as many people as possible. You are welcome here. I am glad you are here to ask your question.”

Before she could answer the question a third time, the man from the Deplorables stood up.

“I made up the post to generate people to come here,” he said.

“You told a lie,” Beth said.

“So I told a lie. Who am I?” the man replied.