Putting on a fry for the party is no small matter. This past Saturday the Harrison County Federation of Democratic Women and the Harrison County Democratic Executive Committee held it's third annual "Fry in the Park" at Hiller Park Pavilion among the oaks on Biloxi's back bay. This year was the best yet. Last year was good, but the statewide races were going and our fry is set for the first Saturday in August. This occurs before the primaries in state election years. All three Democrats running for auditor showed up. It wasn't bad and I did feel like I learned something listening to the three of them but it just wasn't like the Obamaland fry we had this year.
Harrison County Democrats ordered 1500 Obama yardsigns. From the rise the pavilion sits on flowing down to the road and across the bayou were Obama yardsigns intermixed with painted balls of fire. You can see the effect in the pictures from the fry, you can find the pictures here: http://www.hcdec.net/fishfry08/default.htm
Notice everyone smiling in the photos? Our headliners were Ronnie Musgrove and Erik Fleming both of whom are running for separate US Senate seats. Having two US Senate seats open is rare. Having both senate candidates under our pavilion was special. Gene Taylor said he would swing by but he didn't make it this year. Gene was the headliner for the fry in 06, its first year.
The fry started because of Katrina. Most other venues for events in Harrison County were gone or damaged. It was less than a year after the storm. It was an election year, and we were struggling to run the Democratic Primary. We wanted to do something fun, something normal. The Hiller Park pavilion survived Katrina with minimal damage. The roofing shingles had to be replaced but that was all. In a storm where waves destroyed concrete and steel you would think the wind would have got under Hiller's wooden pavilion and blew it to Woolmarket but it didn't happen. We had such a good time that first year we kept it going.
This year we had bleachers set up under the oaks facing the pavilion. For the third year the band was "Bent Wood Rocker" and boy did they. For those of you who might remember they played for years at the Fiesta on the Biloxi strip. The band would play for 30 minutes and then speakers would talk for 30 minutes.
Wayne brown was there, in the photos (above link) you can see Wayne Brown and Linda St. Martin laughing. DA Cono Caranna was there along with Biloxi Councilman Bill Stallworth, Jackson County Supervisor Melton Harris and Rep. Francis Fredericks. Erik Fleming stayed for the entire event and talked to everyone individually.
WLOX could have done better. We had two statewide candidates for Senate at the same time and place at our event. They spoke back to back. It was not mentioned in the WLOX coverage of the fry. Promoting our candidates is one of the reasons we have this event. I am grateful WLOX came out to the fry, it's more than the Sun Herald did. I am also thankful they covered the human interest angle of the fry, I just wish we could have got this years democratic office seekers on the news. I'm not sure if I'm more upset with them for not seeing the real story or me for not having someone give it to them.
The fried catfish was superb. Frymaster Kitty Cat provided his seasoning for the fish, and it was good. We prepared for 300 guests and sold out. The event also gave the Executive Committee, which was just seated at the March county convention to get to know each other in a more social setting. Email, meetings and phone calls are great, but some things just take good food, good music and a good view to get going. In addition to the people listed above, I would like to thank a few people individually.
Barbara Duncan, Organizer
Merry Hancock, Planner
James Johnson, Fryer
Ken Miles, Decorator
Pat Harvey, Server
Carol Henderson, Server
Billy Bova, Clown
I enjoyed being the MC for the fry again this year, I am honored to serve.
Renick Taylor
Biloxi, MS
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