Published: May 08, 2008 07:04 pm            

Early voting totals down

Candidates urge voters to participate Saturday

Early voting totals for Cleburne ISD’s two school board races showed lackluster participation compared with last year’s totals.

As early voting ceased Tuesday, 454 people had voted at the CISD administration building, said CISD elections administrator Sally Smith.

“That’s down from last year,” she said. “I think we had 706 last year.”

The total is the lowest in the past four years — 2006 early voting totals were 1,124 and totals in 2005 were 670.

Smith said she has no idea about why more people didn’t show up to the early voting polls this year.

The district received some votes by mail, Smith said, but those votes won’t be included until Saturday after polls close.

The district has two races on Saturday’s ballot. Brad Allen, Wendell Dempsey and Cindy Mangrum are vying for Place 1, while Lori Zachary and MJ Larrison are going for the Place 6 seat.

Place 2 candidate Stu Madison is unopposed.

Several candidates expressed their disappointment with the total and urged voters to hit the polls.

“I’m disappointed early voting is down,” Zachary said. “I just feel that educating our children is of utmost importance. I hope that it doesn’t mean that there’s apathy on the part of our community in educating our children because that’s the one way everyone can contribute.”

“I just hope between now and Saturday people realize that it’s an important decision, and they need to get out and vote,” Mangrum said. “It’s very critical for the future of our children.”

“I was kind of surprised by the low turnout,” Allen said. “I don’t know what to read into it.”

“It’s a shame more people don’t vote,” Dempsey said. “If you don’t vote, you have no right to gripe. I was worried about how many votes we would have because there’s no controversy, really. It’s just a cut-and-dry deal — you either want them or me.”

“I just hope people turn out Saturday,” Larrison said.

Indeed, the low total could forecast something big Saturday, Smith said.

“We’re anticipating there will be heavier turnout on election day,” she said.

Early voting numbers for the Cleburne City Council election totaled 290, which includes votes by personal appearance and mail, said Ivy Peterson, Cleburne deputy city secretary. Early voting ran from April 28 to May 6.

Voters will decide three city council races Saturday. Incumbent Ted Reynolds faces challenger Bill Miller in the mayor’s race. The Single Member District 4 race includes Councilman John Warren and Rev. Kirklin Cross. Dr. Robert Kelly runs unopposed for a council seat in the Single Member District 1 seat. The incumbent, Councilman Sonny Russell, chose not to seek re-election.

Peterson called the early voting turnout “very low,” but said she wasn’t sure why so few voted.

“I really don’t know other than maybe there seemed to be a lack of campaigning by candidates this time, compared to other races,” Peterson said. “I will say turnout has been higher in district 4 though, probably because it’s a contested race.”

Election day voting hours are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

        

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