Chanukah's lights are ablaze, signaling freedom for all

Christmas approaches, with handsome trees standing tall.

Then comes Kwanzaa, to celebrate black heritage and pride,

And help us see the contributions we all make to this ride.

So gather around, as we send greetings of cheer

To our political friends, some distant and some near.

It has been a year of transition, heralding change

Yet there are those who endure, they're kings of the range.

We count on them to lead us to still more prosperous times

Which perhaps - no promises] - will bring better rhymes.

We also salute non-political folks - you might call them real

Who enhance the state's life, make it flourish, help it heal.

Okay, then, here's the parade, led by a very tall man,

It's Governor Linc Almond, URI's number one fan.

Patrick Kennedy's now a House leader, making constituents glad

But don't criticize Bill Clinton - that gets the congressman mad.

Bob Weygand and Jack Reed remain in Washington posts

Available for your weddings, bar mitzvahs and roasts.

What we really want to know is John Chafee's desire:

Another term in the Senate, or would he rather retire?

Which reminds us of a former senator we remember so well:

If you have a college grant, you can thank Claiborne Pell.

Fry up the latkes, give the dreidel a spin

And recognize a pol who didn't simply win.

No one challenged Buddy Cianci - that'd be poor advice

It's hard to edge a guy who champions ice.

Some pols ran and lost, one being Myrth York,

She wanted to be gov but didn't have the right talk.

Bernie Jackvony lost his lieutenant governor gig

To Glocester's Charles Fogarty, who defeated him big.

Sheldon Whitehouse becomes A.G., succeeding Jeff Pine

Nancy Mayer wanted the job, but her campaign wasn't so fine.

Paul Tavares succeeds Mayer as treasurer of bucks,

Sending Jim Bennett back to hockey sticks, masks and pucks.

But the guy to watch is Jim Langevin, secretary of state,

Who wants to go to Washington and decide the national fate.

Losing to him was Ed Lopez, who ran a nice race

But needs a bigger warchest if he's to get any place.

Unwrap those new skates, sharpen those blades,

Let's remember that officials depend on their aides.

Staff chief Mike DiBiase runs the governor's shop,

Where it's sometimes so quiet you can hear a pin drop.

But if there's news to get out, you'll certainly hear

From communications aide Lisa Pelosi, a person of cheer.

Legal counsel Joe Larisa knows which laws to select -

And his mother, Rose, is a state representative-elect.

An Almond aide who speaks in the sweetest of tones

Is named Pat Collins and answers the phones.

If Congressman Kennedy isn't talking to the press,

It's Larry Berman who's left to deal with the stress.

Weygand's new flack has a most familiar name:

Gregg Perry, who once enjoyed some radio fame.

If Chafee's your quarry, give Nicholas Graham a call

He'll tell you why the senator is the greatest of all.

Trim the tree with tinsel and balls,

It's roll call time in legislative halls.

Gerard Martineau has taken the House majority helm

To serve with Speaker John Harwood, prince of the realm.

Other famed names include Frank Montanaro, Tony Pires,

But Sandy Barone's leaving, with her passions and fires.

I still remember the day she brought as a guest

Her cousin Sara DeCosta - among goalies, she's best.

Majority Leader Paul Kelly remains the Senate's top Dem

And Charles Walton is poised to be president pro tem.

Other solons to know if there's something you need:

Bill Irons, Melvoid Benson, Teresa Paiva Weed.

Two lawmakers named Elizabeth deserve your attention -

As high office prospects, Roberts and Dennigan rate mention.

Welcome Luis Aponte to Providence City Council ranks,

And farewell, Evelyn Fargnoli, who leaves with warm thanks.

Serve up the egg nog, practice a carol,

Some mysteries still have us over a barrel.

What happened to Ed Morabito, on whom Almond was keen?

One day he was there, then he was gone from the scene.

Our friend Junior Patriarca, who's been away for a few

Has come back to the state - but what will he do?

Can legislators serve on commissions? We want to know -

The Supreme Court must decide how this one will go.

Chief Justice Joe Weisberger will be leading the way,

With Judges Lederberg, Bourcier, Flanders, Goldberg also in play.

Mayorships offer a special challenge to poet or bard,

Let's visit Woonsocket and greet Susan Menard.

In Cranston, the moving van's here, there's quite a huge din

Mike Traficante is leaving, John O'Leary's coming in.

In Warwick, Linc Chafee is going to great pains

To build a railroad station to take folks to the planes.

Rev up the cash register, great days are a-coming,

Let's credit the folks who keep the economy humming.

At the Chamber of Commerce, it's Jim Hagan's show,

And Laurie White's videos make Greater Providence glow.

With Carol Grant, Don McGrath, Textron is strong

And if you think we forgot GTECH, you're certainly wrong.

With Bill O'Connor in charge, it's a pretty good bet,

This company will flourish and stay out of big debt.

Regards to Barbara Cottam, the Citizens banker,

When it comes to loyal friends, it's hard to outrank her.

In the Laborers' world, you don't want someone phony

So look up Arthur Coia and pal Armand Sabitoni.

Political operatives persist, you'll never see them flinch:

Pollster Joe Fleming, Democratic chairman Bill Lynch.

John Holmes saved Almond's drive, which once seemed a horror,

Versus York's Rob Horowitz, Sue Pegden and Amy Gabarra.

Things here are on an upswing, no cause for more jokes,

To make Rhode Island flourish, it takes all kinds of folks.

Meet lawyers John Garrahy, Paul Silver, Jack Cicilline,

Doris Licht, Eva Mancuso and Sean Patrick Feeney.

Regarding history, preservation and architecture rules,

Ted Sanderson, Arnold Robinson, Leslie Gardner are jewels.

If you have some water you want to set on fire,

Call Barnaby Evans, he has that desire.

TV reporters scramble to bring news to your screen:

Jim Taricani, Sean Daly, Jack White may now preen.

Susan Farmer's Channel 36 has A Lively Experiment, and

Joan Nathan's Jewish cooking show, which truly is grand.

On radio, one reporter beats others by a mile:

Deb Becker at WRNI, 1290 on your dial.

Yes, newsprint folks also deserve notice in rhymes:

John Barrett in South County, Jim Baron of the Times.

We're on a roll now, but there are many names yet to call

If we failed to mention them, they'd say we had gall.

Sally Dowling is in charge of the state colleges' board,

They better not charge more than students can afford.

To be URI's president, if we had our druthers,

We'd still pick the incumbent, Robert Carothers.

A salute to journalism professor Linda Levin -

For supporting the Cigar, she'll find a place in heaven.

And hail Maureen Moakley, political science professor,

She must work with Bruce Sundlun, though he is her lesser.

(Governor: Just kidding. Don't phone.)

He's fairly new in town, but have you met E. Gordon Gee?

He's president of Brown - now there's a place with a fee]

Another educator you'd have to deem cool -

Brother Lawrence Goyette, who founded San Miguel School.

Also caring about youngsters as challenges mount:

Elizabeth Burke Bryant of Rhode Island Kids Count.

Pour some champagne, 1999 will arrive in a flash

Let's hope fortune smiles on those who add dash.

Like Sister Mary Reilly and her Dorcas Place books

And Deborah Brayton and her Amos House cooks.

We admire Serena Conley's Genesis Center works

And Deb DeBare's crusade against violent jerks.

MADD's Dave Russell battles the highway drunks

Nancy Derrig's zoo hosts elephants and their trunks.

Building electoral clout, Hispanics are on track,

Spurred by Pablo Rodriguez, Alina Ocasio of Latino PAC.

Kate Monteiro, Lee McDaniel spend many of their days,

Advancing the cause of lesbians and gays.

Before ending our poem, we think of Gutterman, Julie,

Legions of Rhode Islanders pray for her truly.

For her and for all, we wish a new year of health

That's more important than anything - far more than wealth.

* * *

M. Charles Bakst is The Journal's political columnist.