Ward 2: Where Childish Behavior is a Good Thing

As usual for an Election Day, candidates and supporters lined the walkway leading to Charlotte Avenue School, where Ward 2 voters were trickling in. 

Of note were the children at play – Matthew Samuelson was helping Samantha Hill round up her cousin, Becca Carey, so they could play together some more. 

Not that it's unusual for kids to find common ground. 

But it just so happened the kids were affiliated with opposing candidates for Ward Alderman – Matthew belongs to Elenore Casey Crane, who is running against incumbent Alderman Richard Dowd – proud grandfather of Becca and Samantha.

"To me, it's just cool to see the kids playing together," said Crane.

Dowd was also standing by, with campaign signs, accompanied by his daughter, Katie Carey. As it has been with every Ward Alderman race, Crane and Dowd have run a clean and cordial race.

As for the voter turnout, things in Ward 3 were reflective of the turnout in other wards. Ward Clerk Maureen Lund had counted 335 voters by about 12:20 p.m.

"We were told it was going to likely be low turnout, which is unfortunate but not surprising," Lund said. "In my opinion, people don't understand the levels of politics and how important local politics is – in a Presidential election, while your vote is important, it doesn't yield the power of local elections."

Lund also noted the good weather as a plus in getting voters to the polls.

The slow but steady pace of voters allowed Kathryn Fogal, chair of the city Board of Registrars, a chance to catch up on her knitting. She was filling in at the New Voter registration table, which had a vacancy – which is party of her job as registrar.

"My job is to do what's necessary on Election Day, so I'm able to sit in and give this person a break, since they're shorthanded," Fogal said.