LACONIA - Intermittent showers interspersed with some heavy downpours forced Belknap County Democrats indoors on Sunday as they celebrated their Annual Picnic at Opechee Park in Laconia.

"We've had nearly sixty people show up already," observed a delighted Belknap County Democratic Party Secretary Cinde Warmington of Gilford less than an hour after the official starting time for the event.  "Given the weather that's pretty remarkable."

Belknap County Attorney Jim Carroll didn't allow rain to deter him from serving up hamburgers and hot dogs from a grill he oversaw in the parking lot adjacent to the Opechee Park Clubhouse into which the planned outdoor affair was moved.  Nor did the rain dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd, clearly "fired up and ready to go" as the party heads into the fall campaign.

On hand to meet with and speak to local Democrats were a number of elected officials including New Hampshire's Speaker of the House Terie Norelli, Senators Deb Reynolds of Plymouth and Kathy Sgambati of Tilton, Reps. Judie Reever and Beth Arsenault of Laconia, and Gail Morrison of Tilton, and County Attorney Jim Carroll.  New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley made a brief appearance as well.

Also on hand and afforded an opportunity to speak were Democratic candidates running for office this fall in addition to the incumbents.

Among them were Ed Allard, Ben Arseanault and Dr. Richard Stuart, all candidates for the N.H. House from Laconia were in attendance, as were Bill Johnson of Gilford, George Condodemetraky of Belmont, Ellen McLung of Gilford, and Kenny Bourbeau of Barnstead.