Henry Frederick
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NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick. Charlene Gagnier (far left), the Early Voting director for Volusia County Supervisor of Elections Ann McFall, takes down voting machines Saturday while an unidentified poll worker finishes up paperwork following six days of Early Voting in advance of Tuesday's primary for mayor and two city commission seats.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- At 3:59 p.m. Saturday, Anne Ferguson was the final New Smyrna Beach resident cast a vote during Early Voting in advance of Tuesday's primary and the turnout was phenomenal -- 47.3 percent higher than in 2007.
Ferguson declined to say who she voted for but she did make it clear why she voted: "Managed growth. We love New Smyrna Beach the way it is, but we have to invite more responsible growth."
Of the 17,101 registered voters eligible to take part in Early Voting, 1,260 or 7.63 percent voted during the six-day period that ended Saturday.
In 2007, only 596 people cast ballots during early voting. Back then, there was only one race involving more than two candidates. And in that primary, Zone 3 incumbent City Commissioner Jim Hathaway romped over his two lesser known challengers with 53.25 percent of the total or 53.25 percent. Thomas C. Kelly got 425 votes or 21.39 percent, and Kassi Mercy received 499 votes or 25.36 percent.
Races with less than three go automatically to the general election as was the case in 2007, when Sally Mackay defeated incumbent Jim Vandergrifft and Lynne Plaskett easily beat an unknown. Hathaway's race ended with his primary win.
But this time around there are three candidates in three races: Mayor Mackay and challengers Marilee Walters and Adam Barringer; Zone 1 City Commissioner Randy Richenberg and challengers Frank Dalton Jr. and Judy Reiker; and Zone 2 City Commissioner Jack Grasty and challengers Steve Sather and Palmer Wilson.
In order to avoid a runoff in November, the top vote-getter in each race must secure 50 percent of the vote, plus 1 vote, otherwise the top two move on and the third-place finisher is finished.
Ironically the highest turnout of voters during Early Voting was Tuesday with 264 voting. On Monday 169 voted, with 254 on Wednesday, 189 on Thursday, 229 on Friday and 155 on Saturday.
Of the 1,260 votes cast, 20 were in DeLand at the headquarters of the Volusia Supervisor of Elections with the rest at the New Smyrna Beach Regional Library.
