hard deadlines

The weather turned out to be perfect, and over 100 supporters gathered today at the Portuguese-American Club for the annual Portsmouth Democratic Town Committee clambake. Senator Jack Reed had some chowder and spoke to the group, urging everyone to get out and vote in the primary on Tuesday. State Sen. Chuck Levesque, State Reps Ray Gallison and Amy Rice, and Dems from the Council and School Committee were on hand for the afternoon of clamcakes and lively political talk. I also spotted Newport City Councilor Jeanne-Marie Napolitano, and state legislature candidate Jay Edwards, running unopposed to represent the Northern slice of Portsmouth.

Sen. Jack Reed, Marge Levesque, Rich Gottlieb.

The afternoon started off with delicious clamcakes and chowder at about 1pm, and Town Council President Dennis Canario was the caller for the auction. Rich Gottlieb and School Committee member Marge Levesque had collected hundreds of dollars of donated items from local businesses (take a look here, and please patronize them!) We got into a bidding war with Jack's pediatrician, Dr. Dierolf, for an inflatable dolphin pool toy (and won.) Everyone had a good time, and it looked like a big fundraising success.

Then it was time for the main event, and the Women's softball team from Roger Williams University (thanks to coach Steve Pappas!) was on hand to help dish up goodies hot off the bake. Delicious clams, followed by fish (with a traditional, secret stuffing), chouriço, potatoes, sweet potatoes, sausage, and corn on the cob.

Jack, Karen, and I were sitting at a table with Rep. Amy Rice and her family, Glenn and Raylene Allen of the Democratic Committee, Town Council candidate Mark Katzman, and School Committee member Dick Carpender and his son, and we had a blast. Yes, it was Jack's idea to bid on the inflatable dolphin. But we also won a book in the auction — The Democratic Party: A Photographic History — that Rich Gottlieb had gotten all the pols in attendance to autograph.

That's me with Senator Jack Reed. (He complimented Karen on her Obama pin. Can't wait to see what he'll be doing in an Obama administration!) Lots more pictures up in the Flickr stream. Congratulations to the Portsmouth Democratic Town Committee for another outstanding event.