Bipartisan Bolognese: Politicians set rivalries aside during 75th annual Election Day pasta dinner (video)

Syracuse, N.Y. — During John Mannion‘s drive to the annual Election Day spaghetti supper on Syracuse’s North Side, John Mellencamp’s hit song “Small Town” came on the stereo. It‘s part of the “Get Out the Vote” playlist Mannion’s wife Jennifer put together for Tuesday.
Mannion is running for the 22nd Congressional Seat against incumbent Brandon Williams.
“It’s the perfect song for today and this occasion,” Mannion said after sitting down for lunch with his family at Our Lady of Pompei. “This gathering is an important Syracuse tradition. It means so much to so many people.”
Tuesday was the 75th time the church at 915 N. McBride St. has served pasta dinners on Election Day. Dozens of parish volunteers spent the past few days rolling 6,000 meatballs and stirring 200 gallons of homemade marinara sauce.
The tradition brings politicians running for office together for one last time before they retreat to watch the election returns.
Williams arrived at noon, 30 minutes after the doors opened. He did a few interviews with local media, shook hands with those in line to buy tickets and then sat down to eat with friends and strangers.
“You‘ve got to be here. This is not optional,” Williams said of the annual dinner. “Plus, it’s 73 degrees out. Everyone who can vote will vote.”
Williams said he invited Mannion to join him for lunch, but the timing didn’t work out. Mannion was walking out on his way just as Williams walked in.
This was the Rev. Brendan Foley’s first year overseeing the dinner at Our Lady of Pompei. He said the folks running this meal are a well-sauced machine, so much so that all he had to do was hand out plates of food or sprinkle the parmesan cheese.
“This event brings everyone together on an important day,” he said. “It’s just good to share a meal, to break bread together.”
While much of the focus is on those running for office, incumbents and former politicians stop by. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and Comptroller Marty Masterpole, both who were re-elected last year. They chatted with Syracuse City Court Judge James Cecile and County Legislator Richard McCarron.
McCarron has been coming to this dinner for 25 years, as a Republican Committee member, as a candidate and now as a supporter.
“There are things bigger than politics, and this is one of those things,” he said “It gives everyone a chance to put the partisan silliness aside and enjoy each other’s company.”
The dinner goes until 7 p.m. For $12, diners get a plate of pasta, meatballs and sauce, bread, salad and a drink. The money raised goes to the church’s ministry and outreach program on the North Side.
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Charlie Miller is a journalist for The Post-Standard and syracuse.com. Contact him at (315) 382-1984, or by email at [email protected]. You can also find him under @HoosierCuse on Twitter and on Instagram. Sign up for his weekly Where Syracuse Eats newsletter here.