Profiles of Bel Air Area Voters

Name: Melanie Bianco

Age: 36

Home: Bel Air

Profession: Speech Pathologist

Who they voted for: Martin O'Malley for Governor

Why: "I'm a Democrat, so I really didn't have much choice. Just funding for schools [was my reasoning for supporting O'Malley]."

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Name: Margaret DiPaula

Age: 51

Home: Bel Air

Profession: Medical Technologist

Who they voted for: Robert Ehrlich for Governor, David Craig for County Executive, Donna Stiffler and Wayne Norman for Delegate, nobody for Sheriff

Why: "We're Republicans, and we support [incumbent Sheriff] Jesse Bane, and he wasn't on our ballot. We had that discussion on the way over here: do we just not vote for a Republican? I don't want any of them. Or do we try to strategize and cast a vote for someone who won't turn around and beat [Bane]. With Bodway and Gahler, that's a hot race that's very important. We did not vote at all."

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Name: Tony DiPaula

Age: 51

Home: Bel Air

Profession: Attorney

Who they voted for: Robert Ehrlich for Governor, David Craig for County Executive, Donna Stiffler and Wayne Norman for Delegate, nobody for Sheriff

Why: "I didn't consider which [candidate for Sheriff] would be the front-runner on the republican side. I didn't want to aid that person in any way. I don't hesitate to cross party lines, ultimately, depending on the candidate is. I like the job Jesse [Bane] has done. I met the man and I support him."

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Name: Adria Parnell

Age: 48

Home: Bel Air

Profession: Sales

Who they voted for: Robert Ehrlich for Governor, David Craig for County Executive and Steven Bodway for Sheriff

Why: "They just looked like the right choice. I voted for O'Malley and I've never lived it down."

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Name: Eddie McCarthy

Age: 66

Home: Bel Air

Profession: School Bus Driver

Who they voted for: Robert Ehrlich for Governor, Jeff Gahler for Sheriff

Why: "The lesser of the two evils. Both parties are evil. I just think it's the lesser of two evils. It's the truth; it's not a joke."

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Name: Tom Baker

Age: 69

Home: Southhampton Drive

Profession: Auto Parts Salesman

Who they voted for: Incumbents; Martin O'Malley for Governor, Barbara Mikulski for U.S. Senator

Why: "They'll do a better job; they have experience."

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Name: Jody Rittler

Age: 53

Home: Off of Route 1

Profession: Stay-At-Home Mom

Who they voted for: Robert Ehrlich for Governor, Jim Rutledge for U.S. Senator

Why: "Ehrlich has been in office and he's a tried and true Republican. I don't know a lot about Brian Murphy."

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Name: Debbie Billings

Age: 56

Home: Darlington

Profession: Registered Nurse

Who they voted for: Anyone who's not incumbent [because we need a change.]

Why: "Tired of people putting money in their own pockets. We need someone fresh with no ties."

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Name: Nancy Arturi

Age: 78

Home: Bel Air

Profession: Retired

Who they voted for: Same as daughter (Debbie Billings)

Why: Same as daughter (Debbie Billings)

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Name: David Mitchell

Age: 55

Home: Bel Air

Profession: Hot Dog Stand Worker, Mitch Pro Services Inc., Real Estate Broker, Harford Memorial Hospital Night Shift Worker

Who they voted for: Derek Hopkins for Register of Wills, Terence Hanley for County Council, Wayne Norman for Delegate

Why: "They're direct to the point, they don't play games. Especially Hanley."

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Name: Barb Waite

Age: 57

Home: Highland

Profession: North Harford Middle School Teacher

Who they voted for: David Craig for County Executive

Why: My main reason I voted for him is because I taught with him at Havre de Grace.

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Name: Kathryn Dick

Age: 87

Home: Bel Air

Profession: Retired

Who they voted for: James McMahan for County Council, David Craig for County Executive

Why: Taught at Bel Air Elementary School when McMahan was a student there.

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Name: Eric White

Age: 47

Home: Bel Air

Who they voted for: Candidates were unopposed

Why: I think it's important to come out and vote regardless of whether they're unopposed candidates running or whether they're both Democrats and Republicans.

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Name: Heather Ellenberger

Age: 30

Home: Bel Air

Occupation: Office Manager

Who they voted for: Terence Hanley for County Council

Why: Hanley represents Bel Air and the county well.