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Voter turnout low for special election
Published December 18, 2006
Candidates in the Tuesday’s special emergency election for District 29 state representative have been making a lot of phone calls, setting up Web sites and knocking on a lot of doors.
Despite their efforts though, turnout for the election in early voting was low compared to the numbers from early voting in the general election.
Four candidates are vying for the spot left vacant by Glenda Dawson, who died in September following a short illness. Dawson won 60 percent of the vote during the November general election, spurring Gov. Rick Perry to call the special election.
In Brazoria County, 2,223 voters cast their ballots in the first four days of early voting compared to the 4,506 votes cast in the same locations in the first four days of the general election early voting.
But the east Pearland voting box during early voting has generated the same or even more votes than it did during early voting in the general election, which stunned Brazoria County’s lead elections clerk Susan Cloudt.
“I was surprised with the people being busy with Christmas shopping,” she said. “I think it’s the (candidates’) grassroots efforts getting people out to vote.”
The candidates running in the election are Republican John Gorman, a Pearland private investor; Republican Randy Weber, a Pearland business owner; Republican Mike O’Day; Pearland business owner; and Democrat Anthony DiNovo, a Pearland doctor. DiNovo lost the general election to Dawson.
In the last few days of the election, candidates worked hard trying to get out voters by individual calls and visits. All four candidates also had set up their own Web sites for reaching out to voters in the short timeframe.
Weber has been doing a lot of driving, trying to make events in Matagorda and Brazoria counties.
“We’ve also been calling our voters and doing mail-outs,” Weber said. “It’s going to come down to turnout and how many voters show up to vote.”
Those casting ballots during early voting likely are those who are already decided, said Gorman, who was the last candidate to join the field.
“I think what you are seeing are the party faithful and those faithful to one candidate are voting early,” he said.
Concentrating on voters who are more likely to vote has been an important part of the special emergency election campaign, said DiNovo, who has been walking to a lot of neighborhoods reaching out to voters.
“The election is so short that we’re going to those who will vote,” he said.
O’Day’s campaign staff has been putting in 13 to 14 hours a day making calls and attending community events, he said. The high numbers of the east Pearland location are a good indication that some voters are paying attention, he said.
“I just think there’s a lot of interest in the race,” he said. “I think there will be a major Republican turnout.”
Turnout in Matagorda County has been sparse with only 290 votes cast in the first four days of early voting out of about 20,000 registered voters in that county.
“It’s low, but it’s more than what I expected,” said Gail Denn, Matagorda County clerk. “Typically with one thing on the ballot, there’s not a lot of turnout.”
John Tompkins covers Brazoria County for The Facts. Contact him at (979) 849-8581.
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ON THE WEB
Web sites for candidates in the special election Tuesday:
• Mike O’Day www.odayfortexas.com
• John Gorman www.gormancampaign.com
• Randy Weber www.weberfortexas.com
• Anthony DiNovo www.dinovoforstaterep.com
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