Published: Wednesday, November 8, 2006
Dissatisfied voters use ballot as change method
A Hubbard couple hopes change in state administration has a ripple effect to the White House.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
Some people had a lot to say about this year's general election, particularly dissatisfaction with the local economy that seemed to compel them to vote to get rid of every Republican possible.
"We need more Democrats in there. Obviously something's got to be done," said Linda Hinkle of Howland as she left the Howland Township Administration building after voting Tuesday afternoon. Hinkle is a Delphi Packard worker who took a buyout. She leaves the company Jan. 1, she said.
"What are our kids and grandkids going to do?" Hinkle said, referring to employment opportunities. Hinkle said she likes Randy Law, the Warren Republican incumbent state representative in the 64th District, but she voted against him also because of her desire to elect Democrats.
This election was all about change for Cheryl Smith of Raccoon Road, Canfield Township. "Change. Lots of change. All across the board," she said. "I'm not too happy with President Bush."
Harry Blangero, asked what brought him out, said: "The poor job the Republicans are doing. ... We have to send them a message."
Blangero and Anthony Monroe voted at Boardman High School. Monroe said no matter which party has control of Congress, both parties need to work together for the good of the country.
Kassim Elgabri Jr. of Austintown said he voted a straight Democratic ticket. "We need a change in the government," he said. "We need a new governor in there and we need more Democrats in office. We've had Republican rule for too long."
Seeking change
Jamie Prince, voting in Howland with her husband, Kevin, said she also took the buyout at Delphi Packard and will be leaving her job around the end of the year.
"It's important to have Democrats, who respect the blue-collar worker," she said. "Republicans want us to be the working poor." Her philosophy led her to vote for U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th; Ted Strickland for governor; Marc Dann of Liberty for attorney general; and U.S. Senate candidate Sherrod Brown, she said.
Jeannie Ulasz of Sharon, Pa., voted because she doesn't like the direction of the country's elected officials. "I think our country is heading in the wrong direction. I think our representatives are not doing the job they should. They aren't asking the questions they should. I think the Democrats are more likely to do that sort of thing," said Ulasz, who voted straight Democratic.
Donna Hasson of New Castle, Pa., agreed. "We just need a change," she said, noting she also voted straight Democratic.
Roger Bayuk of New Castle, however, voted straight Republican. "I wouldn't vote for a Democrat for dog catcher," he said. "I just don't trust them."
Jackie Garritano of Baldwin Street, Youngstown, said it was the statewide gambling issue on the ballot that drew her attention. "I don't think gambling should be allowed," she said moments after casting her ballot at the Wick Park Recreation Center.
Garritano also had a local issue in mind — the 9.5-mill school tax levy. "I voted for the school levy. They need all the help they can get," she said.
Nathan Anderson of Michigan Avenue said the gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races drew his attention. He said he was opposing anyone with any connection to Gov. Bob Taft. "I just don't like the scandal — the money and the coins," Anderson said. He also voted for the Youngstown school levy.
Carl DePizzo of Arch Street, a voter at the United Methodist Community Center in Youngstown, said the smoking issues were his main interest. He voted against the two issues that would place bans on smoking in public places, explaining that he occasionally likes to smoke a cigarette when he's out. DePizzo said he voted against the school levy.
Smoking issues
Kevin Prince of Howland said the statewide smoking issues were important to him and his wife because Jamie smokes. "I feel if you're a citizen of the United States, you should have the right to smoke," he said.
Jamie Prince added that she always tries to show respect for nonsmokers, such as her children, by not smoking around them. "But if I want to sit in a restaurant and smoke, it should be my choice," she said.
Gloria Yeany of Austintown voted straight Democratic in part to send a message that she is dissatisfied with Republican leadership on the state and national levels.
Voters at the New Waterford precinct at the village's volunteer fire department in Columbiana County said they wanted change and that meant voting Democrat. "I guess I voted more Democrat than usual," one man said; a second man said he voted for every Democrat on the ballot.
Roslyn Soda of Twin Oaks Court in Precinct 3, Canfield Township, smiled as she came out of the polling place in the Canfield Municipal Building on Lisbon Street. "I'm delighted to see so many people out to vote," she said. Behind her, the room was crowded and the lines reached almost to the hall.
What was important to her this year? The races for governor and attorney general, and the state issues that had to do with gambling and smoking. Locally, the school renewal levy was important.
"I voted for Marc Dann," she said, who was running against Betty Montgomery in the attorney general's race. "We know him personally, and I know the kind of person he is."
School construction
Several Hubbard residents went to vote for or against the school bond issue. The school district wants to build three new schools under the Ohio Classroom Facilities Assistance Program with a 5.5-mill bond issue to cover the local share of construction in the principal amount of $18,598,535 over a maximum period of 28 years; and an additional 0.5-mill tax levy for 23 years.
"What brought me out more than anything was the school issue here in Hubbard," said Gina Battisti, who also was concerned with the statewide minimum wage issue. Battisti voted for the school levy.
"This is a pretty big election with the governor seat and school issues," said Teri Ray. "I support the schools and hope it passes. It's time to move forward."
John and Betty Raich of Hubbard hoped that casting votes in this election would have state and national ramifications. "We want change in state administration with hopes it will have a rippling effect to the White House. We hope this sends a message," she said.
Gary Harkleroad of Austintown said the state issues to legalize slot machines and on smoking were more important to him than the candidates were.
"I like the casinos plan because too much of that money is going out of the state," he said. "Also, I'm a smoker, so I voted yes on Issue 4 and no on Issue 5," which would restrict people from smoking in public places. Issue 4 is a constitutional amendment to allow smoking in certain public places such as bars, restaurants and bowling alleys.
Sick of mudslinging
As for the candidates, Harkleroad said he was disgusted with the negative campaigning from candidates in both major political parties. "Most of the commercials were about slinging mud on the other guy and didn't tell me anything about what they've done or their policies," he said.
Harkleroad, a registered Republican, voted for U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown, the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, over incumbent Mike DeWine. "I liked Mike DeWine even less than I liked Sherrod Brown," he said.
For the Quinn family of Canfield-Niles Road in Canfield Township, all the issues were important. But Mike and Chris and their daughter, Kaitlan, especially wanted to exercise their voting muscles to support the Bush administration's efforts in Iraq. Kaitlan's boyfriend, Justin Erk of Pittsburgh, left for Iraq on Tuesday.
"We believe in what he's doing," said Mike as the three left the polling place in the Canfield Municipal building on Lisbon Street. Chris said she also wanted to support Canfield schools' renewal levy and the Cardinal Joint Fire District's operating and equipment levies.
In Campbell there were several local money issues and 10 charter amendments to be decided. There were lines at both voting places caused by, poll workers said, a heavier-than-normal turnout and the longer amount of time it took voters to wade through the large number of issues and candidates.
Other issues
Antoinette Austin, 38, who voted at Campbell Memorial High School, said her major reason for voting was the statewide smoking issue. She said she voted against Issue 4 and for Issue 5. Austin said she voted against the proposed sale of the city's water treatment plant and distribution system to Aqua Ohio and against the proposed charter amendment to eliminate the minimum staffing requirement in the police department.
The sale of the water plant to Aqua, approved by council in November 2005, was forced to a public vote by a referendum.
Dolly Salsgiver, who also voted at the high school, said she voted against the additional five-year, 3-mill property tax levy, saying the "town was not worth it anymore." The levy would generate $250,000 to $300,000 a year for infrastructure projects such as streets and storm water catch basins.
Margaret Chandler of New Castle said Gov. Ed Rendell brought her out to vote. "I really like Ed Rendell. I like what he's doing about waste and the jobs he's bringing to cities," she said. "I'm a fan of Lynn Swann, but only on the football field."
Wednesday, November 8, 2006
A Hubbard couple hopes change in state administration has a ripple effect to the White House.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
Some people had a lot to say about this year's general election, particularly dissatisfaction with the local economy that seemed to compel them to vote to get rid of every Republican possible.
"We need more Democrats in there. Obviously something's got to be done," said Linda Hinkle of Howland as she left the Howland Township Administration building after voting Tuesday afternoon. Hinkle is a Delphi Packard worker who took a buyout. She leaves the company Jan. 1, she said.
"What are our kids and grandkids going to do?" Hinkle said, referring to employment opportunities. Hinkle said she likes Randy Law, the Warren Republican incumbent state representative in the 64th District, but she voted against him also because of her desire to elect Democrats.
This election was all about change for Cheryl Smith of Raccoon Road, Canfield Township. "Change. Lots of change. All across the board," she said. "I'm not too happy with President Bush."
Harry Blangero, asked what brought him out, said: "The poor job the Republicans are doing. ... We have to send them a message."
Blangero and Anthony Monroe voted at Boardman High School. Monroe said no matter which party has control of Congress, both parties need to work together for the good of the country.
Kassim Elgabri Jr. of Austintown said he voted a straight Democratic ticket. "We need a change in the government," he said. "We need a new governor in there and we need more Democrats in office. We've had Republican rule for too long."
Seeking change
Jamie Prince, voting in Howland with her husband, Kevin, said she also took the buyout at Delphi Packard and will be leaving her job around the end of the year.
"It's important to have Democrats, who respect the blue-collar worker," she said. "Republicans want us to be the working poor." Her philosophy led her to vote for U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th; Ted Strickland for governor; Marc Dann of Liberty for attorney general; and U.S. Senate candidate Sherrod Brown, she said.
Jeannie Ulasz of Sharon, Pa., voted because she doesn't like the direction of the country's elected officials. "I think our country is heading in the wrong direction. I think our representatives are not doing the job they should. They aren't asking the questions they should. I think the Democrats are more likely to do that sort of thing," said Ulasz, who voted straight Democratic.
Donna Hasson of New Castle, Pa., agreed. "We just need a change," she said, noting she also voted straight Democratic.
Roger Bayuk of New Castle, however, voted straight Republican. "I wouldn't vote for a Democrat for dog catcher," he said. "I just don't trust them."
Jackie Garritano of Baldwin Street, Youngstown, said it was the statewide gambling issue on the ballot that drew her attention. "I don't think gambling should be allowed," she said moments after casting her ballot at the Wick Park Recreation Center.
Garritano also had a local issue in mind — the 9.5-mill school tax levy. "I voted for the school levy. They need all the help they can get," she said.
Nathan Anderson of Michigan Avenue said the gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races drew his attention. He said he was opposing anyone with any connection to Gov. Bob Taft. "I just don't like the scandal — the money and the coins," Anderson said. He also voted for the Youngstown school levy.
Carl DePizzo of Arch Street, a voter at the United Methodist Community Center in Youngstown, said the smoking issues were his main interest. He voted against the two issues that would place bans on smoking in public places, explaining that he occasionally likes to smoke a cigarette when he's out. DePizzo said he voted against the school levy.
Smoking issues
Kevin Prince of Howland said the statewide smoking issues were important to him and his wife because Jamie smokes. "I feel if you're a citizen of the United States, you should have the right to smoke," he said.
Jamie Prince added that she always tries to show respect for nonsmokers, such as her children, by not smoking around them. "But if I want to sit in a restaurant and smoke, it should be my choice," she said.
Gloria Yeany of Austintown voted straight Democratic in part to send a message that she is dissatisfied with Republican leadership on the state and national levels.
Voters at the New Waterford precinct at the village's volunteer fire department in Columbiana County said they wanted change and that meant voting Democrat. "I guess I voted more Democrat than usual," one man said; a second man said he voted for every Democrat on the ballot.
Roslyn Soda of Twin Oaks Court in Precinct 3, Canfield Township, smiled as she came out of the polling place in the Canfield Municipal Building on Lisbon Street. "I'm delighted to see so many people out to vote," she said. Behind her, the room was crowded and the lines reached almost to the hall.
What was important to her this year? The races for governor and attorney general, and the state issues that had to do with gambling and smoking. Locally, the school renewal levy was important.
"I voted for Marc Dann," she said, who was running against Betty Montgomery in the attorney general's race. "We know him personally, and I know the kind of person he is."
School construction
Several Hubbard residents went to vote for or against the school bond issue. The school district wants to build three new schools under the Ohio Classroom Facilities Assistance Program with a 5.5-mill bond issue to cover the local share of construction in the principal amount of $18,598,535 over a maximum period of 28 years; and an additional 0.5-mill tax levy for 23 years.
"What brought me out more than anything was the school issue here in Hubbard," said Gina Battisti, who also was concerned with the statewide minimum wage issue. Battisti voted for the school levy.
"This is a pretty big election with the governor seat and school issues," said Teri Ray. "I support the schools and hope it passes. It's time to move forward."
John and Betty Raich of Hubbard hoped that casting votes in this election would have state and national ramifications. "We want change in state administration with hopes it will have a rippling effect to the White House. We hope this sends a message," she said.
Gary Harkleroad of Austintown said the state issues to legalize slot machines and on smoking were more important to him than the candidates were.
"I like the casinos plan because too much of that money is going out of the state," he said. "Also, I'm a smoker, so I voted yes on Issue 4 and no on Issue 5," which would restrict people from smoking in public places. Issue 4 is a constitutional amendment to allow smoking in certain public places such as bars, restaurants and bowling alleys.
Sick of mudslinging
As for the candidates, Harkleroad said he was disgusted with the negative campaigning from candidates in both major political parties. "Most of the commercials were about slinging mud on the other guy and didn't tell me anything about what they've done or their policies," he said.
Harkleroad, a registered Republican, voted for U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown, the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, over incumbent Mike DeWine. "I liked Mike DeWine even less than I liked Sherrod Brown," he said.
For the Quinn family of Canfield-Niles Road in Canfield Township, all the issues were important. But Mike and Chris and their daughter, Kaitlan, especially wanted to exercise their voting muscles to support the Bush administration's efforts in Iraq. Kaitlan's boyfriend, Justin Erk of Pittsburgh, left for Iraq on Tuesday.
"We believe in what he's doing," said Mike as the three left the polling place in the Canfield Municipal building on Lisbon Street. Chris said she also wanted to support Canfield schools' renewal levy and the Cardinal Joint Fire District's operating and equipment levies.
In Campbell there were several local money issues and 10 charter amendments to be decided. There were lines at both voting places caused by, poll workers said, a heavier-than-normal turnout and the longer amount of time it took voters to wade through the large number of issues and candidates.
Other issues
Antoinette Austin, 38, who voted at Campbell Memorial High School, said her major reason for voting was the statewide smoking issue. She said she voted against Issue 4 and for Issue 5. Austin said she voted against the proposed sale of the city's water treatment plant and distribution system to Aqua Ohio and against the proposed charter amendment to eliminate the minimum staffing requirement in the police department.
The sale of the water plant to Aqua, approved by council in November 2005, was forced to a public vote by a referendum.
Dolly Salsgiver, who also voted at the high school, said she voted against the additional five-year, 3-mill property tax levy, saying the "town was not worth it anymore." The levy would generate $250,000 to $300,000 a year for infrastructure projects such as streets and storm water catch basins.
Margaret Chandler of New Castle said Gov. Ed Rendell brought her out to vote. "I really like Ed Rendell. I like what he's doing about waste and the jobs he's bringing to cities," she said. "I'm a fan of Lynn Swann, but only on the football field."
Wednesday, November 8, 2006
the 9.5-mill school tax levy. "I voted for the school levy. They need all the help they can get," she said.
Nathan...
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