Slow Going at the Polls Tuesday

Published 6pm Tuesday

Civic duty.

That’s what pulled many Novato voters to the polls Tuesday,in a hum drum mid-term election with no measures or controversial issues on the ballot.

At the Novato United Methodist Church on South Novato Boulevard, volunteers looked bored as the clock slowly inched toward 3pm. By that time, a mere 128 voters had come in to the precinct, although dozens more mail-in ballots were also dropped off.

“It’s been slow, but steady,” said chief inspector Alana DuBost. “Just as we’re about to go to sleep, someone comes in.”

Outside, residents greeted neighbors and friends as they walked from the parking lot into the church. One of them was 68-year-old Art Rogers, a Vietnam veteran leaning on a cane for support.

“I fought for our right to vote and that’s why I’m here today,” Rogers said, adding that he was voting for council incumbents Pat Eklund and Denise Athas. “They haven’t screwed things up because things are moving along just fine in the community,” he said.

Archie Hinkle, 77, couldn’t disagree more, saying he was concerned about politicians who serve too many terms on the same electoral body.

“When people stay too long, they become entrenched,” he said. “It’s a problem”

Voter Jerri Coleman, 78, a retired teacher, said she came out to cast her vote in the Novato Unified School District election.

“We have a good school district here and I’m proud of it,” Coleman said.

Despite Novato being home to many young families, people under 50 were hard to find at the polls Tuesday.

Over at the Open Door Christian Church, the chief inspector came outside to yell at a reporter, telling her that she was threatening the “safety of the voters.” But inside only one or two people were casting a ballot and the election workers cracked jokes to pass the time.

One of the voters was John Martin, a writer and former executive director of a Berkeley nonprofit.