Posted by Portsmouth Herald News, NH on May 05, 2008 at 12:52:33:
Candidates cook for their constituencies
Meatball contest paired with stump speeches
By Dave Choate
dchoate@seacoastonline.com
May 05, 2008 6:00 AM
STRATHAM — Republican congressional candidates Jeb Bradley and John Stephen were looking for votes Sunday — for their pots of meatballs.
Bradley and Stephen were at the Stratham Municipal Center for a public meet and greet and a meatball cooking contest that pitted them against 16 locals and Republican party officials. The two took turns on the microphone while residents ate, and both took aim at current New Hampshire Democratic State Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, while avoiding shots at one another.
Bradley, a congressman from 2003 to 2006, said he was in favor of re-working the process of earmarking, which has been a contentious item in the news lately. He said he did not favor doing away with it entirely, especially for critical local fixtures such as the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
"I'll fight to reform the process," Bradley said, also expounding on his support for veterans' benefits. "We've got to protect Americans."
Stephen touted his experience as commissioner for the state Department of Health and Human Services and stressed individual control over such issues as health care. He said it was important to bring what he called New Hampshire ideals of freedom and fiscal conservatism to the nation's capital.
"We need to bring New Hampshire values to Washington, and stop bringing Washington government to New Hampshire," Stephen said.
Sharon Sykas of event organizers Tri-Town Republican Committee and the Seacoast Federation of Republican Women said the event was designed as a low-cost, fun time for residents to meet Republican congressional candidates in a critical election year.
While their speeches outlining their platforms were well received by the crowds, their cooking prowess paled in comparison to Stratham resident Stella Scamman.
Scamman's meatballs won the popular prize, impressed the judges and won over Mary Ann Esposito, host of the Public Broadcasting Service cooking program "Ciao Italia!"
Bradley and Stephen are running for a seat in Congressional District 1 for the U.S. House of Representatives