Over plates of hot Italian sausage and tart green peppers, some 500 enthusiastic supporters awaited the arrival Monday night of their idol, Alfred E. Vellucci, an incumbent candidate for Cambridge City Council.

"I paid my three bucks for this meal 'cause Al's my kind of man," said 68-year-old Louis F. Agnate. "He's done more for the senior citizens than any living human being."

Agnate played with his yellow "I'm Number One for 'Big Al' Vellucci" button and added, "He's the only man in Cambridge who gives out free meals to the elderly, sets up bingo games and passes out Christmas baskets to the needy. He's the poor-man's candidate."

Vellucci's crowd had converged into the Chez Marie Suite at Porter Square's Stephen James Restaurant to dance and soak up the free liquor.

Agnate said he helped organize the distribution of cards advertising the Independent slate of candidates. "Al gets lots of volunteers like me," Agnate said.

He added that Vellucci is known by almost everyone in East Cambridge. "He sends out over 2000 Christmas cards to the elderly each year," Agnate said.

As the four-man band tuned up, Jean Depasquale cavorted from table to table to greet old friends.

"Louis, how are you?" she said above a blaring saxophone. "Won't Al be thrilled at the turnout? Isn't this just the greatest?"

The band broke into a brisk "Somewhere My Love" that lured several middle-aged couples onto the dance floor.

"I'll tell you why Al's such a fantastic guy," Depasquale said. "When I was working with the Cambridge elementary schools in '66, I saw Vellucci take the kids out of condemned buildings and put them in safe schools."

"Vellucci has actually taken addicts by hand to the hospital," she said, gesturing as if to grab the tablecloth. "He's straightened out some of the marital problems of our Vietnam vets and helped them find jobs."

Mrs. Depasquale rose from the table to leave and added, "Al is a human. He feels for all of the little people. All of them."

The bass guitarist began a low pulsing rhythm as the lead singer put his accordian down and stepped up to the mike.

"Spent a long time in the city,

Working for the man every night and day.