Update: Just 8 percent of registered voters cast ballot at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church by 5:23 p.m.
November 6, 2007
Voter turnout was low in Ward 2 with only one contested seat. By 5:23 p.m. only 154 out of 1,900 registered voters voted at the voting center in St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church on 2900 Hoover Avenue.
“It is quite light,” said Pat Cain, an election official . “That is typical of Ames too. The population in general don’t seem to vote real heavy.”
They are expecting a small surge just before closing time, but otherwise it is a typical election day.
People trickled into the lighted room in the front of the church and voting was important to them.
“I think it is our right to vote and I think it’s important to vote who you want for city council,” said Lori Stephens, of Ames. “Hopefully who I voted for will make good decisions.”
The people who are registered at Ward 2 are a mix of the middle-aged and older people who live in the area and students who rent housing in the area, a “good cross-section” said Cain.
Some of the voters came specifically to support Pat Brown.
“I believe in the candidates, Jami Larson and especially Pat Brown,” said Tamaria Wright, of Ames. “I know Pat Brown personally and I’ve seen what she’s done with the community and that’s why. And I know she is going to do more.”
Another voter, David Ruggle, of Ames, said he came to vote for Pat Brown.
“I wanted to get on record for a little change,” Ruggle said. “I was really voting on how I thought a member of the council had worked over the past term and I thought it was time for a little change. I came to vote for Pat Brown.”
Stephens said she hoped her choice of candidate would help her have more of a say in the Council.
“Hopefully who I voted for would make good decisions, I guess. Hopefully if I go to the City Council meeting, they’ll listen to what I have to say so I can cast my vote too,” Stephens said.
Manjit Misra, director of agricultural and biosystems engineering, said voting was an important thing to do.
“You need to vote so you can select the right people and this is the election. By not voting you are actually making a decision too,” Misra said.
