If you want people to attend an event, you have to feed them.

On Saturday, March 5, U.S. Rep. James Langevin held his quarterly “Lunch with Langevin” gathering at Nino’s Pizza on Atwood Avenue in Cranston, and it was a record-breaking turnout.

From the moment the congressman arrived, he never stopped working the room, stopping to speak at every table, talk to every attendee, and shake every hand.

The concerns raised by the attendees were as various as the toppings on the pizza. Several members of his staff, including constituent service representatives who cover a multitude of different issues, joined Langevin.

“This is the largest attendance, at any event, ever,” Meg Geoghegan, the congressman’s director of communications, said. 

Geoghegan said Langevin prefers the informal setting of events such as the Nino’s visit, and “likes to meet with the people face-to-face, listen to their concerns, let them know their voices are being heard.”

With well over 50 people in attendance, it was standing room only as Langevin listened to the issues raised by his constituents. From health care to veterans to tolls, he listened patiently while everyone got a chance to speak with him.

Linda Marchetti from Cranston was excited to speak with him about getting more funding for medical issues.

“I wanted him to know that I think there should be more dollars raised for medical research. I want him to vote for the healthcare bill for Medicare,” she said.

Warwick resident Alicia Gannon was impressed with the event.

“I get the impression he really likes to speak with his constituents on a personal level. He doesn’t have to do these events, but he does. He cares, it doesn’t get any simpler than that,” she said.

Gannon discussed employment issues for people with disabilities, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Even though the event was Democrat-driven, there were many remarks and conversations relating to the Republican presidential race and debates.

The congressman himself was pleased with the event.

“The ‘Lunch with Langevin’ program provides an informal setting for me to meet one-on-one with my constituents, where I hope they can feel comfortable asking questions, giving feedback and sharing their concerns about the challenges facing our country. It has been a great outreach tool and I am absolutely overwhelmed by the turnout for this event. We hold a ‘Lunch with Langevin’ once a quarter, so I hope it continues to grow and attract more Rhode Islanders,” he said.

“He is an integral force here locally, and nationally in D.C. where he works so hard. I find him to be very personally motivating with his own disabilities and challenges as I am recently disabled,” said Cranston resident Amy Beth Parravano.

To contact Langevin’s office, visit langevin.house.gov/contact-me.