Local Races, Amendments Important to Lutz Voters

Voters and campaign volunteers at precinct 589 in Lutz say the presidential race is important, but so are the local races and the proposed amendments to Florida's Constitution.

Even if the language is a bit confusing, one Lutz resident said.

Supporting Amendment 9 brought Rebecca Strelchuk and Justin Kielbon of Spring Hill to Lutz Tuesday morning. The two made their way to First United Methodist Church from another polling location in New Tampa to wave signs for District 63 State Representative candidate Shawn Harrison.

"He is a great guy," Kielbon said. "And he's supporting Amendment 9."

The amendment would give full homestead property tax benefits to the surviving spouses of military veterans and first responders who are killed in the line of duty, something that Kielbon has a personal connection with, he said.

Hillsborough County firefighter Chris Giunta of Lutz said all of the local races were important to him. He brought 2-year-old daughter Lacey along with him to cast his vote.

One a national level, the economy concerned Giunta most, he said. He would like to see a change, he said.

Bette Newberger cast her vote to stay the course on a national level, she said. And at the local level, keeping Carol Kurdell on the Hillsborough County School Board is also important.

"She's been doing a good job and deserves to have a chance to continue," Newberger said.

S. House of Lutz went to the polls this morning with her husband, Brad, to cast her vote "for a change."  She also felt strongly about the passage of Amendment 9, to support the families of those who lose their lives in the line of duty.

She voted yes on all the amendments, she said.

Brad House said he voted no on a couple, and noted that reading through them all was a bit difficult.

"The wording is confusing," he said. Sometimes there are double negatives in the way they are worded so you don't know if you are actually voting for or against something, he said.

"Amendments should be in layman's terms," Brad House said.

Want to brush up on the amendments before you head to the polls today? Check out our guide: Florida’s Constitutional Amendments: What Yes Votes Mean