Candidates Make One Final Pitch Before Primary

This Sunday, the Portuguese American Citizen's Club was the location for the 2010 Democratic Clam Boil, a yearly fundraiser put on by Portsmouth Democratic Town Committee members with raffles, speeches and an authentic, all-you-can-eat New England meal. 

In addition to local democratic candidates for the Portsmouth Town Council and the School Committee, the day's guests included all four candidates for the 1^st Dist. Congressional seat and other candidates for the Rhode Island General Assembly and additional statewide offices.

 "We've been doing this for 25-30 years and it's really just a great event," said Glenn Allen, who helped plan the day's festivities. 

Marjorie Levesque, a member and current candidate for the school committee, solicited many of the raffle items, including gift certificates and packages to more than 50 local businesses, and was hard at work Sunday afternoon preparing for the auction. Volunteers sold around 100 tickets for the event at $30 each.

Candidates kept the atmosphere fun and festive, working the kitchen far more than the crowd and cheerfully serving food to the attendees. Introductory remarks at the podium were kept to less than three minutes per candidate.   

Leonard Katzman, chairman of the Portsmouth Democratic Town Committee and candidate for Town Council, spoke to the crowd about the urgency of getting more Democrats on the Town Council.

"The same failed philosophies of the national Republicans are seen right here in Portsmouth," Katzman said.  Katzman discussed the council's lack of support for green energy and cuts to the school budget.

"Two years ago, Republicans took control of the Town Council here in Portsmouth. This Republican-controlled council, on every issue, they have proven themselves to be unable to provide reasoned, civil, intelligent leadership," Katzman said.  "It is therefore crucial to get out to vote and to get Portsmouth Democrats elected to office this Nov. 2nd." 

Katzman introduced the candidates, starting with the school committee.  "David Croston, Andrew Kelley, Marge Levesque, and John McDaid," he said, as the group stood waving to the spectators. "For town council, Michael Buddemeyer, Dennis Canario, Terry Cortvriend, Al Honnen, Jeff Lewis, Jim Seveney, and Leonard Katzman."  

"Our state representatives, Amy Rice, John Edwards, Raymond Gallison, and George Alziabek. And the state Sen. Charles Levesque," Katzman continued. 

The other state-wide candidates in attendance included Peter Kilmartin, who is running for attorney general, incumbent Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts and Gina Raimondo, who is running for treasurer.

Raimondo is new to politics and used the opportunity to introduce herself to many Portsmouth Democrats. Raimondo's previous experience was with Point Judith Capital, investing money in small businesses. 

"I have a finance background, I have investment experience, and I have a fresh perspective. I've never been involved in government. That means I have the professional skills combined with the independence and the energy to do an excellent job," Raimondo said. "Now is the time because I've never seen the state facing such enormous financial challenges and I believe as treasurer I can help the state tackle those challenges."

Andrew Kelley, 19, believes he is the youngest person to run for the school committee in Portsmouth's history. 

"I've been going to school committee meetings for a long time. Things need to change. They need new perspectives. They need to look out for the students," Kelley said. 

Town council incumbent Dennis Canario served as the DJ and auctioneer. Paddles were handed out for bidding.  

Providence Mayor David Cicilline, a candidate for Patrick Kennedy's 1^st Dist. seat, took over briefly for Canario, and held up a picture by a local artist. "Let's start the bidding at $5,000," Cicilline said. 

Other candidates for the 1st District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives also attended the event, including former state party chair Bill Lynch, East Providence Rep. David Segal and businessman Anthony Gemma. 

Cicciline spoke of his advantage over the other candidates, saying "I've been the mayor of a city for eight years. When you're the mayor of a city you know how to solve problems and get things done. You know how to stand up and fight for the people."   

Voting will take place at polling locations throughout the state tomorrow.