News

Election 2004

Expressions of democracy

People are showing strong interest in the election in different ways: by voting early, demonstrating and yelling at demonstrators.

By DAN DeWITT
Published November 1, 2004

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SPRING HILL - Larry Albury was both the most relaxed and vocal of the dozen or so John Kerry supporters camped out near the Spring Hill waterfall Saturday.

Wearing a Cat-in-the-Hat hat and colored beads, he sat in a lawn chair near the line of drivers waiting at the U.S. 19 stoplight so he could deliver dire warnings about the future of the economy under President Bush.

Not all of the motorists wanted to hear it, he said, "but I haven't been flipped off yet."

Just a few seconds later, a muscular young man with close-cropped hair jumped out of a sport utility vehicle and screamed at Albury and the other demonstrators.

"Kerry stinks. George Bush is number one. Look at the statistics," he said, pulling away from a woman who tried to drag him back into the vehicle.

"Shave your head, you Nazi," Albury replied.

That was one display of the inflamed feelings on the last weekend before the election in Hernando County. A more polite one was at the Supervisor of Elections Office at the Westside Government Center on Forest Oaks Boulevard, where residents waited for as long as 90 minutes to fill out pre-election ballots.

At both locations, residents said they were more interested in the presidential race, and more convinced of its importance, than they have been for years or decades.

Some voters and candidates said the focus on Bush and Kerry had overshadowed local races; others said it had brought more attention to them. Either way, local candidates were doing their best not to be forgotten. Almost half of those seeking countywide seats had come to the Westside Government Center to shake hands, hold signs, pass out fliers and, in the case of County Commissioner Diane Rowden, serve cold water.

"I have lots of experience with this," Rowden said, walking along the line of voters with a tray of plastic cups.

"I was a flight attendant for 32 years. At least this sidewalk's not moving."

Pat Fagan, one of the candidates in the nonpartisan runoff in School Board District 2, stood on a grass island in the parking lot outside the elections office, saying he wanted to be careful not to interfere with the voters.

His opponent, Linda Prescott, joined Rowden in serving water to voters and talking to them. She felt she had to, she said, because she was finding that many of them didn't know her or her opponent. She also wanted to point out, she said, that the School Board race was at the bottom of the first page of the ballot, where it might be overlooked.

"I'm very concerned that people won't vote for School Board," she said.

Eddie McConnell, the Democratic candidate for sheriff, said he thought the excitement about the presidential race had encouraged people to think more about politics in general.

"I'm finding a lot of people are well informed," McConnell said. "They've read about the issues, and they've attended the political forums."

Clint Anderson, a 23-year-old public school teacher, said he was concerned about the School Board race. But his main motivation for voting was the presidential race and his concern about the war in Iraq, he said.

"I believe maybe we have been misled and we should step back and take a look at all the issues and maybe take a more conservative approach," he said.

Teresa McNeil, a former teacher's aide who is studying to be a teacher, would probably agree with Anderson on some issues. She and her husband, Ted, said they think more money should be spent on education and that teachers deserve higher salaries.

They are also concerned about what appears to them to be uncontrolled development in the county.

"They've got to do something about that," Ted McNeil said.

Like Anderson, he said, he was most interested in the issues in the presidential race, which is where their opinions diverged.

"I'm very concerned about homeland security," Ted McNeil said. "I think we're headed in the right direction."

So does Alan Bressler of Spring Hill.

"The No. 1 issue is, and it's very simple, if we don't take care of the terrorists over there, they're coming over here," he said.

"You can be concerned about all kinds of stupid things, but unless you get the terrorists under control, none of it matters."

Some of the people who drove by the Spring Hill waterfall indicated similar feelings, said Cassandra Saez, 14.

Her mother had encouraged her to hold a sign for Kerry because she supports him strongly. Also, because Saez plans to vote in the next presidential election, her mother thought she should learn about the political process.

The day's main lesson was about the deep divisions in the electorate.

As she spoke, drivers who agreed with her tooted their horns and waved. Those who didn't yelled Bush's name or turned their thumbs down. She said she had also seen "a lot of fingers."

"I've learned a lot of Republicans aren't very nice," Saez said.

Dan DeWitt can be reached at 352 754-6116 or dewitt@sptimes.com

CASTING YOUR BALLOT

Early voting in Hernando County concludes today. Ballots may be cast from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at either of the Supervisor of Elections Office locations: the Hernando County Government Center, Room 165, 20 N Main St., Brooksville, or the Westside Government Center, 7473 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill. All polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Election Day. All registered voters must present photo and signature identification.

[Last modified November 1, 2004, 00:11:20]

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