The State House was buzzing Friday night as dozens of state leaders from across the nation converged in Providence for the National Speakers Conference.

After a day that included golf at Newport Country Club and tours of the International Tennis Hall of fame, the legislative leaders attended a State House reception in the State Room followed by dinner under a massive tent on the South Lawn.

There were at least two opera singers on hand, and guests munched on prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, and crabmeat and eggplant hors d’oeuvres.

Political Scene noticed catering trucks in the parking lot belonging to a familiar Providence company.

Venda Ravioli, owned by the family of House Finance Committee Chairman Steven M. Costantino, was providing food for the event.

Reached by phone, House spokesman Larry Berman said that the State Legislative Leaders Foundation handled all the arrangements for the conference, which concluded yesterday.

“We didn’t handle the arrangements. They were not made by Speaker [William J.] Murphy’s office,” Berman said.

Does that mean Murphy, who as president of the National Speakers Conference was hosting his counterparts from throughout the country, had no role in selecting the caterer?

“I have no idea,” Berman said, adding that he would check into it. He did not immediately respond Friday night.

The conference organizer couldn’t provide specifics when reached by Political Scene Friday.

The catering arrangements were probably handled locally, said Steve Lakis, president of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation.

“I can assure you, I’ve had no contact with anyone suggesting this person or that,” he said. “There’s no hanky-panky going on here.”

Avedisian likes what he sees in Moderate Party

Is Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian reconsidering his party affiliation?

The mayor tells Political Scene he has agreed to voice his support for the fledgling Moderate Party of Rhode Island at an Oct. 10 fundraiser.

Avedisian was confirming comments attributed to him in a statement issued by Ken Block, the chairman of the newly formed political action committee, which has not yet acquired official political party status.

In it, Avedisian is quoted as saying: “I believe that the Moderate Party is one of the ‘agents for change’ that will help transform Rhode Island from the polarizing effect of our current political system. And, although I remain a Republican, I believe that the Moderate Party is a partner to all of those who seek fundamental change in our political system."

In a later interview, Avedisian said he has no intention of changing his own party affiliation but is impressed that the group has endorsed Democrats, Republicans and independents. He said it appears committed to the same kinds of reform issues — such as more transparency in government — that he espouses, as well as elevated political debate that bridges the partisan divide.

Said Block of Avedisian: “Mayor Avedisian’s popularity and success at the voting booth are proof that voters will gladly embrace politicians who are willing to forgo the bitter partisan politics of the ‘Democrat/Republican’ divide. The majority of voters want and need to be governed from the center of the political spectrum.”

According to its Web page, this is Moderate Party’s core belief: “Rhode Island cannot succeed while our government continues on its present path of corruption, financial mismanagement and lack of accountability ... We must fix the government in order to fix the state. … The hot-button social topics of our times (abortion, illegal immigration, etc.) necessarily must take a legislative back seat while our economy is repaired and the erosion of the tax base reversed.”

Among the group’s platforms: “Remove from office any elected official who is found guilty of a major ethics violation … Disallow politicians the option of paying a settlement to the Ethics Commission without admitting guilt … Stop spending money that is not well spent … Bring spending on social services in line with Massachusetts’ spending on the same services, including duration of eligibility for these services … Induce businesses to locate to Rhode Island by bringing R.I.’s business taxes in line with Massachusetts’ business taxes … Bring the total compensation packages (including wages, benefits, pension amounts and pension eligibility) for state employees in line with what private sector workers earn.”

And finally: “Disallow the Legislative Grant process — we don’t have the money to pay for it. Legislative Grants are off-budget payouts to select groups and organizations decided solely at the whim of the legislative leadership.”

Avedisian says he is excited by the possibilities. “Whenever you can get a group of people who are coming together to talk about how we can fundamentally change the governmental system of Rhode Island, I think it’s a good thing.”

Bennett heads up Rep. Kennedy’s R.I. office

U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy has a new press secretary.

Kerrie Bennett, a spokeswoman and projects manager for the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority, stepped down last week to take over the congressman’s Rhode Island office.

She succeeds Robin Costello, who worked with Kennedy for about three years. No word on what prompted Costello’s departure.

Before working for the Convention Center Authority, Bennett was policy director for the state general treasurer’s office during the tenure of Paul Tavares. She served as a legislative assistant and deputy press secretary for U.S. Sen. Jack Reed when he was serving in the House.

“She brings more than 10 years of communications and government experience that will certainly be an asset to my office as we continue to expand our media outreach capabilities,” Kennedy said in a statement.

Bennett, a Rhode Island native, has a bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College and a master’s in business administration from the University of Rhode Island, Kennedy’s office said.

Rich’s film career thriving

And while we’re on the topic of press secretaries, Debbie Rich, former flak for Lincoln D. Chafee, has beefed up her acting resumé.

The onetime politico appears in the recently released remake of the 1939 film The Women, alongside Meg Ryan, Annette Benning and Jada Pinkett Smith.

“I am a star, though it is very brief,” Rich reports.

She plays a lingerie saleswoman in the scene where (spoiler alert!) Ryan confronts actress Eva Mendes about having an affair with her husband.The movie was shot in Boston and New York City.

Rich, who still informally serves as press secretary to the former Warwick mayor and U.S. senator, has appeared in about a dozen other films, including a stint as a wedding guest in last year’s hit 27 Dresses, starring Katherine Heigl. She also appeared in College Road Trip, The Box, 21 and Pink Panther 2.

The actress reports that she is a card-carrying member of the Screen Actors Guild.

GOP group shot: Take it outside

Thursday afternoon, 30 Republican candidates for the General Assembly gathered on the marble staircase in the State House rotunda for a group photo.

A photographer was standing at the ready.

But before the photo was snapped, Governor Carcieri’s communications director, John Robitaille — who appeared to be coordinating the event — decided that it might not be appropriate to host an election-related event inside the State House.

A photo was not taken inside.

And the group — which included sitting Republican lawmakers such as Nick Gorham and Bob Watson and candidates Ericka J. Atwell, a 22-year-old Rhode Island College student, and John A. Pagliarini Jr., a Republican lawyer who sits on the State Properties Committee — was told to move outside to the State House’s front steps overlooking the city.

“I don’t want to take any chances,” Robitaille said, referring to hosting an election-related event where state business is conducted. “We want to avoid any controversy.”

A security guard was called to unlock the doors that lead to the outdoor staircase.

speoples@projo.com