By KEN de la BASTIDE
Tribune staff writer
May 07, 2008 12:07 am
—
Howard County experienced record voter turnout for Tuesday’s primary election.
In a traditionally Republican precinct 64, which votes at Good Shepherd Church, poll workers twice had to request additional Democratic Party ballots.
Among those casting Democrat ballots Tuesday, many admitted to in fact being Republicans.
The total turnout in Howard County showed that 39 percent of the 63,031 registered voters cast ballots. GOP Chairman Craig Dunn estimated 3,500 Republicans crossed over to vote in the Democratic primary.
With the hotly contested Democrat presidential primary between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, the party was in the spotlight. The Democratic nominee will run against Republican John McCain in November.
Four years ago, 22 percent of the registered voters in the county cast ballots, 66 percent casting Republican Party ballots. A total of 12,743 ballots were cast out of 58,302 registered voters in 2004.
On Tuesday, 18,069 of the 24,505 ballots cast in Howard County were in the Democratic Party primary or 74 percent of the total. Only 6,425 votes were cast in the GOP primary.
Inspector Susan Sedam, in precinct 64, said as of 4 p.m. more than 800 ballots had been cast, which is about 50 percent of the registered voters.
“Lots of Democrats,” she said. “That is not normal. There has to be crossovers.”
Sedam said the precinct had already received one shipment of additional Democratic Party ballots and was awaiting a second delivery.
“This is predominately Republican,” Sedam said. “I’ve worked here for seven or eight years. It has to be Republicans casting a Democrat ballot.”
Jim Hurst said he was one of those traditional Republican voters who crossed over this year.
“I think we need change,” Hurst said. “It is probably a reaction or backlash to the Bush administration. I’m happy at the state level, I’m not happy at the federal level.”
Hurst said he voted for Obama because he believes the country needs to do something different.
When asked about the general election, Hurst said it would be a tough decision between McCain and the Democratic Party nominee.
“I have never voted a straight ticket,” he said.
Alanna Paul, the inspector for precinct 65 which votes at Boulevard School, said of the 267 votes cast, less than 50 were Republican.
“This is a better than normal turnout,” she said. “It is mostly Democrat. There has been some crossover.”
Lorie Lopez said she normally votes Democrat, but said the presidential contest brought her to the polls.
“I voted for Hillary [Clinton],” she said. “I just like her better. I did consider Obama, but I agree with her more.”
Marian Parker, the judge at the Bon Air School, said the precinct did request additional Democratic Party ballots.
“[Turnout] has been very good,” she said. “The majority have been Democrat, which is not typical for here.”
Pat Crittendon was waving an Obama sign outside the Carver Community Center alongside Denise Pettijohn, who was campaigning for gubernatorial candidate Jim Schellinger.
“It has been pretty steady,” Crittendon said. “It wouldn’t do any good for a Hillary supporter to be here.
“This is a heavily African-American precinct,” she continued. “African-Americans are heavily supporting Obama. That’s at least true in Kokomo. I don’t know if Hillary will get one vote here.”
Pettigrew believes Schellinger is the best candidate with a chance of defeating incumbent Republican Mitch Daniels in the fall.
Outside the Kokomo Urban Housing Authority Linda Tones-Sardin was sitting on the corner of Walnut Street and Apperson Way holding an Obama sign. She had been sitting at the corner for more than three hours.
“I’m helping out the campaign office,” she explained. “I asked how I could help and they told me to come here. It’s a beautiful day.”
Ken de la Bastide can be reached at (765) 454-8580 or via e-mail at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com
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