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Voter turnout improving
By JOHN BALZ, Times Staff Writer NEW TAMPA -- Helped by the presence of two local candidates and a civic group organized specifically to encourage voting, turnout improved at New Tampa precincts in the Sept. 10 primary. But New Tampa voting continued to lag behind the county's, more proof that the foundation for political activism still needs to settle. Slightly more than 21 percent of New Tampa registered voters went to the polls in this month's primary election. Only 12 percent went to the polls for the 2000 primaries and fewer than 10 percent went in 1998. The 21 percent figure remained about 8 percent below the overall voter turnout rate in Hillsborough County. "There's only one way to go and that's up," said City Council member Shawn Harrison, who lives in Tampa Palms. "Yeah, we've made some improvement over typical turnout rates in a primary election, but it's a sad commentary to say that you can't be disappointed. The take on New Tampa still is, they're awfully good at complaining but they're not really willing to do anything about it." Supervisor of Elections Pam Iorio said voter turnout varied across the county, but was higher on average than in past primary elections. It was especially high in Carrollwood, where voters not only are choosing a county commissioner, but also are replacing Republican Rob Wallace in the state House of Representatives. In New Tampa, Republican voters had the option of sending either Jim Davison or Ken Hagan to the November showdown for County Commission, District 2. Leaders of the group New Tampa Votes! posted signs, handed out fliers and ran an advertisement in a local paper the week before the election encouraging people to vote. Davison, who is chairman of the group, said he was pleased with the turnout and is hoping for a 25-30 percent turnout in the general election. Hunter's Green, where Davison lives, had the second highest turnout rate in New Tampa with 29 percent. Pebble Creek edged it by a tenth of a percent. Davison won all nine precincts in New Tampa, collecting more votes than the other three candidates combined. Cross Creek, where Hagan lives, had a 21 percent turnout rate. But Hagan won the primary, largely because of strong support in Carrollwood, where he grew up. The least active portion of New Tampa was Tampa Palms, west of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard between Bearss Avenue and Interstate 75. Fewer than 19 percent of the 2,612 registered voters cast ballots. "This was just the first step," said Davison. "We're not done by a long shot." -- John Balz can be reached at (813) 269-5313 or at balz@sptimes.com
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From the Times |
