NORWICH – Chenango County Democrats gathered at the Canasawacta Country Club Sunday afternoon with representatives from the state and national level in the party’s first summer picnic.

The Chenango County committee hosted the summer picnic from 1 to 5 p.m., drawing in nearly 200 party members and friends in what is hoped to become a recurring event.

Attendants purchased $40 single or $70 couple tickets for the event, in which they were given the opportunity to converse with United States Representative Michael Arcuri of the 24th Congressional District, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and New York State Assistant Attorney General Dennis C. McCabe of Binghamton along with a number of local Democratic representatives. In exchange for their donations, guests also enjoyed a live DJ, an open bar and lunch buffet.

“We wanted to do something like this before, but were unable to get it together. After taking over as county chairman in 2008, we set ourselves this goal of sponsoring a party picnic. We wanted to invite area members to come and casually converse with local county, state and national Democratic leaders while having a good time and supporting the party,” said Chenango Democratic Committee Chairman Patrick McNeil.

McNeil said the Democratic minority presence in the mostly Republican county was growing as a result of a combination of factors including local interest stimulated by the national presidential campaign of Barack Obama and the polarizing legacy of former Republican President George W. Bush.