Longtime Democratic activist Paula Arsenault has been named Honorary Chair for the Lincoln County Democratic Committee’s (LCDC’s) annual Family Fun Day Lobster Bake, to be hosted at Cider Hill Farm, 785 Main St. in Waldoboro on Sunday, Aug. 7.

“Paula has engaged in electing good Democratic representatives for many years,” said LCDC Chair Chris Johnson “She understands that there are many ways to help and that when times are challenging, as they are now, even small amounts of time committed to a positive cause makes a difference and brings satisfaction.

“During my campaign for Senate, Paula at various times drove me to doors, created art for the campaign, and arranged gatherings,” he said, “because Paula has a personal commitment to ensuring our democracy functions well.”

Arsenault, who recently stepped down as chair of the Boothbay Democrats, remembers as a little girl knocking on doors with her father, Martin Ragsdale, Chair of Middletown Township’s Board of Supervisors in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. “There was one day we went down to the local A&P supermarket and listened to John Kennedy give his stump speech. Yes, I guess being a Dem is in my DNA!” she said during a recent interview.

She met her husband, Boothbay native Billy Arsenault, during a summer visit and after graduating from Rhode Island School of Design she moved to the peninsula where they married and raised two sons. Eventually, she contacted local activists like Betsy and David Wells, Sandra Rumery, and David and Ellie Taylor – folks who had already been working to increase the visibility of the Democratic party on the Boothbay peninsula – and volunteered to help.

“We worked hard and we had a lot of fun,” she remembered. “And we elected Bruce McDonald four times as the State Rep. for the region!”

When chosen to be chair of the Boothbay Democrats in 2018, she reached out to other villages across the peninsula in an effort to build consensus and maximize visibility. She’s most proud of the “Democracy Is Brewing: Meet the Candidates” event the group assembled for the 2018 campaign season.It was a sold out meet-and-greet that was hosted at the Boothbay Harbor Opera House. “We had our candidates, music, and a packed house. It was a success from every point of view. I’m humbled by this recognition but really, this honor belongs to the many, many folks who pitched in and gave time and attention to our initiatives. Working together for a better Maine—that’s how we’ve made a real difference.”

“Paula and Billy were instrumental in the success of our Drive-In for Democracy during the pandemic campaign of 2020,” said Geoff Bates, fundraising leader for LCDC. “Tim Sample is a childhood friend of Billy’s. They didn’t hesitate to put me in touch with him and he was gracious enough to agree to be our MC for the afternoon. With Tim at the helm, we pulled together the largest single group of Democrats to gather safely during
the deepest part of the pandemic,all because Paula was willing to reach out,” he continued.

Chris Johnson urges folks who may be dismayed with recent headlines to, “Come gather with us in August, under our big tent and in the company of others who share your outrage as we commit to protect people against GOP harm and make our plans for a day when words like democracy, equality, reason, truth, decency and kindness will once again describe the soul of our nation.”

The Family Fun Day Lobster Bake is an annual event hosted by the LCDC and is open to the public. This all-American event will feature the Democratic big tent, live music, beer, wine, freshly shucked local oysters, and grassroots politicking at its most personal. The afternoon begins at noon with a social hour accompanied by live music. Dinner is served when the lobsters (or your choice of grilled hot dogs or a vegan meal) come off the grill at 1 p.m. Short speeches by representatives in government follow and there will be lots of opportunities to support the LCDC via three separate onsite raffles.

Details of sponsorships can be accessed, along with a link to make reservations, at https://lincolncountydemocrats.com/lobster. The deadline for reservations is Monday, Aug. 1. For more information about this event, please contact Bates at 207-644-8776.

The LCDC uses the money they raise through this and other fundraising initiatives to support their local efforts in Lincoln County. Its grassroots mission is to organize volunteers and communicate with voters in support of candidates who believe in the Democratic ideals and principles of government by, of, and for all the people.