Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Voters across Pasco and Hillsborough counties turned out in far greater numbers for the 2018 midterms than they did four years ago.

Websites kept by the local supervisor of elections show that 60.64 of Pasco County’s registered voters turned out, while Hillsborough’s turnout — at 61.48 percent — was even higher. Pasco’s turnout in the 2014 general election was 53.38 percent; Hillsborough’s was 49.3 percent.

We caught up with some voters who cast their ballots early, and other voters who got their “I Voted” stickers s on Election Day, Nov. 6 — to hear what they had to say about this year’s election.

By B.C. Manion

Published November 14, 2018

Photos below by Brian Fernandes

Keenly interested in races for governor, U.S. Senate
Forty-eight-year-old Robert Fabregas went to the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library to take advantage of early voting.

The Pasco County bus driver, who has no political party affiliation, said he was most interested in the races for Florida governor and for the U.S. Senate.

“I voted for (Ron) DeSantis for governor, and I voted for Rick Scott for senator,” said the Wesley Chapel man, who was accompanied by his daughter, Arianah, at the early polling place.

His opinion was mixed on four bond issues facing Pasco voters: He was against expanding libraries and the jail, but supported more fire stations and park improvements.

Voting early, on his day off
Forty-one-year-old Chris Eberhard, of Land O’ Lakes, took advantage of having a day off to cast his ballot for the midterms at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, one of numerous early voting places in Pasco County.

The Republican said he was most interested in the governor’s race, and despite his political affiliation, he said he voted for Democrat Andrew Gillum. “I approve of his policies regarding education,” Eberhard said.

 

 

 

Doing what he can to stop Trump
Wesley Chapel resident Col Belimy also took advantage of early voting to cast his ballot in the midterms.

The 57-year-old mortgage writer said he felt compelled to take part in the voting process, so he can “make sure I can eliminate ‘45’ (President Trump) from doing anymore tragedy to this country.”

In the governor’s race, he said he chose Andrew Gillum, noting “I liked his policy and procedures.”

 

 

Early voting is a good way to go
Forty-six-year-old Oscar Pena said he headed to the polls for early voting because he thinks its “quick and efficient” and a good way to avoid Election Day lines.

The Home Depot associate said he was particularly interested in the races for Florida governor and U.S. Senate.

Pena, who has no party affiliation, said he chose Ron DeSantis for governor and Rick Scott for the U.S. Senate.

He also said he favored Pasco County’s bond issues to expand libraries, fire stations and the jail.

 

She supports Republican philosophies
Fifty-five-year-old Stacy Hallman took advantage of early voting to cast her ballot.

The Republican, who works for Tampa Electric Company, said she’s not fond of every GOP candidate, but noted she tends to support their philosophies.

“I’m a person that believes in free enterprise, and low taxes and less government,” Hallman said.

She supported all four of Pasco County’s general obligation bond issues, which will raise money to expand fire/rescue services, improve parks and recreation, upgrade libraries and expand the county’s jail.

 

Photos below by B.C. Manion

Making sure she’s counted
Susan Wilde headed to Precinct 595 in Lutz, early on Election Day, to cast her ballot.

“I wanted to make sure my vote was counted,” said the pediatric nurse. “It’s our right to vote. That’s what brings about change.”

 

 

Wants a more inclusive government
Darrynn Vannasse, a medical assistant, said she was particularly interested in the race for governor.

“It’s going to make an impact. I supported Andrew Gillum. I think he would bring change to our state, which I think we really need, and make inclusiveness for everyone,” she said.

She also was interested in the proposed amendments to the state’s constitution, especially No. 4, which restores voting rights for convicted felons who have served their time.

“I voted yes for it,” she said.

She also supported ballot items calling for additional taxes to support transportation improvements and to pay for air-conditioning and other projects in Hillsborough’s public schools.

“I know everyone is usually against taxing, but it’s got to come from somewhere,” she said.

Wants to set a good example for students
Stacey Roller, a middle school media specialist at Buchanan Middle School, made it a point to cast her ballot on Election Day.

“I had a mail-in vote, but I decided I wanted to come in and vote the day of — so that my students at the school I’m at could see that I voted,” she said, referring to the “I Voted” sticker that voters receive.

She was particularly interested in the races for governor, U.S. Senate and the Hillsborough County School Board.

She had a personal reason to vote in the school board race.

“I supported Henry “Shake” Washington. He was actually my area supervisor when I was at Adams Middle School and Carrollwood Elementary School and teaching in the library there.

“So, I was excited to come out and support him,” she said.

She supported an additional sales tax to pay for air-conditioning and other school projects in Hillsborough’s public schools.

“Our air-conditioning in the media center did not work the first few weeks of school, and we had teachers who were in their classrooms. It was 86 degrees in their classrooms, so they were actually coming to the library to hold their classes in the library because it was so hot in their rooms.”

She thinks people will support the extra money for schools because the district has earmarked how it will be spent.

“They went through and said, ‘Here’s what’s going to happen at every single school,’ ” she said.

Roller also supported an additional tax for transportation improvements.

She previously worked near the University of South Florida and knows firsthand the frustration of being stuck in traffic.

“I would just sit in afternoon traffic around USF and the hospital area. You just knew it was a guaranteed 45 minutes of bumper-to-bumper traffic,” she said.
Voting is important, the school media specialist said.

“Your voice does matter. You can make a difference. No matter who you are voting, whether it’s Republican or Democrat, whatever the case is, you have to actually get out and vote.

“Even if your candidate that you were hoping for doesn’t win, at least you’ll know that you got out and you tried,” she said.

Trying to break the gridlock
Art Frotten, a retired chemical engineer, rode his bicycle to the Meadow Pointe IV Clubhouse in Wesley Chapel to cast his ballot. He said he was there “in hopes of stopping so much of the civil war that’s going on in Washington. It is all-out civil war. The only thing we’re not doing is shooting at each other.”

“I went Republican, even though I think Trump is an ass. He’s got some good ideas, and I’d like to see some of them come about.

“I went straight Republican to give Trump as much support as he can get, so as to swing some strength to one party rather than having such a deadlock in Washington and, also, of course in the state. Anything the state can do to help Washington start to move, the happier I’ll be. We’ve had deadlock for 30 years.”

Frotten also said he supported the four general obligation bond issues on Pasco County’s ballot.

“Pasco keeps expanding and needs money to do the expansion. More people means we all share the taxes more.”

He split his votes on the proposed amendments to Florida’s Constitution.

“I don’t see the felons’ need to be able to vote. I think they did the crime. That’s their problem,” he said. “Oil and gas drilling, I see no reason to disapprove oil and gas drilling,” said the retired chemical engineer.

Would like fewer attack ads
Giancarlo Rodriguez took the day off work, so he could vote. “I wanted to make a difference. We have to try to make things better somehow. This is the way we can actually do it,” he said.

He said he favored Pasco County’s general obligation bond issues.

“We need the infrastructure. Pasco County really doesn’t have as much infrastructure, parks-wise. Our libraries are pretty diminished. The fire department runs pretty thin, as well.

“That’s one of the reasons I came in to vote.”

He said he’d like to hear what politicians would do if they were elected, instead of hearing so many attack ads.

“The problem is, they focus their main ideas on attacking the other person. You don’t get to see what they want to do for the state, itself,” Rodriguez said.

He voted for an increased Homestead Exemption, but not just because it would give him a tax advantage. “If you can lower a little bit of the taxes, we can just pump it right back into the community itself,” said Rodriguez, who grew up in South America, Europe and Asia.

First-time voter
Arcadian Vera’s mom took a photo of him, standing outside Precinct 48, at the Meadow Pointe IV Clubhouse in Wesley Chapel.

Nineteen-year-old Arcadian Vera went to Precinct 48 to take part in his first election.

“I have to. Right now, our government is in a little bit of trouble — well, quite a bit of trouble, actually. I think there has to be a change. I felt that it was my responsibility, as a voter, to make the change.”

Voting is a civic duty
Vietnam veteran Harold Nelson said he makes it a point to take part in the political process.

“It’s very important to vote, being an American,” Nelson said. “I want to vote to put the right people in office.”

He voted a straight Democratic ticket. “I’ve been a Democrat all of my life.”

He also supported Pasco County’s general obligation bond issues, calling them “very important.”

 

 

Wants to help make history happen
Vincent Williams, who works with youths, said he headed to Precinct 6 at the Alice Hall Community Center in Zephyrhills to possibly be part of history.

“I voted for Andrew Gillum,” Williams said, referring to the candidate who had the potential to become Florida’s first black governor. “I understand his upbringing is similar to mine.”

Williams said he also supported Amendment No. 4 to the state’s Constitution, which restores a felon’s voting rights, after the felon has served his or her sentence.

“Once they serve their time, and they pay their debt, it should be clean slate,” Williams said.

Every vote counts
Accounting clerk Misty McClung said she votes on a regular basis.

“It matters,” McClung said. “They need every vote. It may be your one vote that changed the whole election.”

She was particularly interested in the race for Florida governor, casting her vote for Ron DeSantis.

“I’m Republican trying to support Trump. I think the economy is a lot better now, and I’m big on closing the borders,” she said.

She supported three of the four general obligation bond issues that were on the ballot — agreeing to higher taxes for parks, fire protection and libraries. She opposed the tax for the jail expansion.

“I did not vote to improve the jail system. I feel like you’ve committed a crime, why does it need to be so great,” she said.

Not a straight-ticket voter
Melissa Gordon, a full-time housewife and grandmother, said she came to cast her vote at the Alice Hall Community Center in Zephyrhills because she wants “to improve our government.”

She was interested, in particular, in some of the proposed amendments to the state’s Constitution.

She voted to restore a former felon’s right to vote, for instance. “If they’ve served their time, then they all means (they should be allowed to vote),” she said.

She also supported an amendment regarding Victims’ Rights.

She supported Republican Ron DeSantis for governor and Democrat Bill Nelson for the U.S. Senate.

“I’m fed up with Rick Scott,” Gordon said.

It’s important to be heard
Dietary supervisor DeNae Roberts said she believes it’s important to vote, “just to be heard.”

In the governor’s race, she voted for Andrew Gillum.

“He seems to care about the people a lot more, everybody, in general, not any particular race, or any particular gender. He’s very inclusive.”

She also supported Amendment 4: “I think if you did your time, and you’ve learned your lesson and you paid it back to society, why not be able to vote?”

Roberts said she supported three out of four of the county’s general obligation bond issues.

“I did not approve the one for jail, but I did approve everything else — the fire/rescue, the libraries, and parks and recreation.

“Unfortunately, if you’ve done something and you’re in jail, I don’t think our money should be spent on improving it,” Roberts said.