Turnout Light at New Port Richey Poll

People trickled into the New Port Richey Recreation and Aquatic Center Tuesday to cast their votes in the primary. 

As of 1 p.m., 360 voters in precinct 025 had cast their ballots, either at the polls or in absentee or early voting ballots. That’s 10.7 percent of voters in the precinct, according to preliminary numbers from the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections. Of the those voters, 205 are Republican and 125 are Democrats.

Countywide, 35,441, had cast their ballots, either at the polls or in absentee or early voting ballot, as of 1 p.m. That’s 11.76 percent of registered voters in the county.

Rick Ardizzone, a former law enforcement officer in the area, voted for incumbent Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco, who is running to keep his job for another four years.

Ardizzone said he thinks Nocco, who was appointed to the job in April 2011, has done a pretty good so far.

“I think he’s got a good head on his shoulders," he said.

Mark Rogers also voted for Nocco. Rogers voted for Kurt Browning for Superintendent of the Pasco School district. Rogers’ wife is a teacher.

“We need a change in the school board,” he said.

Kathy Borden is a Democrat who went to the polls and discovered she couldn’t vote in the Republican primaries. She didn’t cast a vote for sheriff, but she wants to see Nocco keep the office.

A couple Nocco supporters stood outside the rec center holding signs in support of him.

One of them is Dan Dede Jr., a Pasco fire rescue employee living in Trinity, said he voted for Nocco. He also voted for Browning. Incumbent Heather Fiorentino, who is running against Browning for superintendent, has been “very divisive,” in her career in the post, Dede said.

“I think Kurt Browning has the leadership experience to take the school board where it needs to be,” he said.  

Who do you support in today's primary? Let us know in the comments section.