Voting goes smoothly
By Greg Jones   Eastern Arizona Courier

Voter turnout in Graham County was the second highest in the state, with 72.9 percent of registered voters in the county casting ballots in Tuesday's general election.

According to the Secretary of State's Web site, Yavapai County had the highest turnout, with 81.5 percent.

Graham County Elections Director Judy Dickerson said she didn't know if turnout was a record high but said it is the highest she has ever seen in Graham County.

"I think a lot of people were interested in this election, and they turned out to vote," Dickerson said.

Dickerson said polling places were well equipped to handle the more than 10,000 residents casting ballots, and there were only two minor problems with voting machines.

Graham County was also part of a pilot program using Automark System voting machines. The machines, designed to assist the visually impaired, include a touch-sensitive monitor that "will walk (voters) through the voting procedure so they can actually vote independently," Dicker-son said.

Voters at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Safford used the machines. They choose their candidate by touching the monitor, and the machine produced a paper ballot that can be run through a scanner.

Dickerson said the state has mandated this equipment be available in all counties throughout the state by 2006. She said people with and without disabilities used the machines and were "highly impressed with them."

Graham County Manager Terry Cooper said on election night that Dickerson and the workers in her office did a great job.

"I'm starting to sound like a broken record here, but things went smoothly again," Cooper said. "I have to tip my hat to Judy and the rest of her office."

Though the nation seemed rife with political divisiveness, attitudes in Graham County seemed less charged.

Outside of the ubiquitous campaign sign-plastered trucks, only two groups, the Eastern Arizona College Democrat and Republican parties, made their voices heard outside the voting booth.

The Republicans and Democrats set up one block away from each other on Hwy. 70, the Republicans on College Avenue and the Democrats on Stadium Avenue.

Travis Jones with the College Republicans said he just wants people to be politically active and support Bush. Along with Retta Spitzer, who supports Bush and questions Kerry's moral values, and other EAC students, the young Republicans held signs urging motorist to honk if they support Bush, and saying, "Silly liberals, checks are for workers."

Response was mixed, with most people honking and only a few cursing at them.

Down the block, the student Democrats received the same mixed response. The only obscene gesture directed at them came from a Thatcher student riding home on the bus.

Alray Nelson, president of the college's Democratic organization, said he supports Kerry because Kerry represents minorities and the common man.

"I noticed Safford and Thatcher are pretty much conservative," Nelson said, "but we need to let people know there are Democrats here, too."

At Sunshine Village, the after-work crowd stretched the line outside to 20th Street. The people the Courier talked to there were more interested in performing their civic duty.

"Many people complain, but they don't participate," Edgar Vernal said, putting on a jacket and taking his place at the end of the line. "If I'm going to complain, I've got to participate."

Jerry Fredrick said it is important to vote in every election.

"They're all important," Fredrick said. "I don't think there is any difference right now."

Election results

All but two races affecting Graham County have been decided.

The battle for Dist. 5 Representative between Jack A. Brown (D) and Sylvia T. Allen (R) is still too close to call, and no write-in candidate received more votes than Phyllis Bryce for Graham County Superintendent.

The Secretary of State's Web site shows Brown has a 501-vote lead over Allen, but absentee ballots in Gila and Navajo counties are still being counted and provisional ballots are being verified.

"I just have to think (those votes) will run about the same proportions as the people who voted in person," Brown said Thursday afternoon. "If it holds that way, I'll come out of there a winner."

On the other side, Allen sounded defeated Thursday, even before all the votes were counted.

"It's not fun to lose, especially when you lose closely," she said. "You think, geez, if I would have talked to a few more people."

Allen said she was disappointed Dist. 5 Representative Bill Konopnicki (R), who was re-elected Tuesday, did not support her. She said she almost beat Brown on her own, and that she thought Konopnicki's support would have helped bring in more votes.

Allen said she will remain active in politics.

"I plan on saving my campaign signs," Allen said. "I don't know what that means, exactly, but I'm going to save them for now."

Konopnicki was elated over his re-election.

"I'm very appreciative of the vote of confidence from the voters in my district," he said. "Graham County really supported me and gave me the lead I needed to keep it all the way through. I'm very pleased and humbled by the great support I received."

Konopnicki commented on another race, saying the election of Jake Flake (R) as Dist. 5 Senator will be great for rural Arizona. Flake defeated Cameron Udall (D), receiving 55 percent of the vote.

"That's a very significant thing," Konopnicki said. "It puts us in a position to move our bills more effectively. We can move anything in the House, but they would get bogged down in the Senate. Jake will be a key player in ending that."

The Senate seat was held by Brown, who was the Senate Minority Leader. Brown termed out, and the Republicans were able to win the seat and take an 18-12 lead in the Senate.

"I just feel it was a great honor to win, and to win by double-digit figures," Flake said. "I just feel really honored to be, once again, a representative of the people in District 5, and this time moving over to the Senate."

He looks forward to working again with Konopnicki and, if he wins, Brown.

"I think the last two years, we worked as a good team in representing District 5," Flake said. "I honestly feel nobody has worked harder for rural Arizona."

The Graham County Board of Supervisors will announce shortly how they will fill the superintendent position. They will have to appoint someone to serve until the next election in 2006.

Most county officials, including Supervisors Jim Palmer (R), Mark Herrington (R) and Drew John (D), County Attorney Kenny Angle (D), Sheriff Frank Hughes (D), Treasurer Jean Reynolds (D), Recorder Wendy John (D) and Assessor Jacque Attaway (D), ran unopposed.

Tom Johnson and Brian Acord were elected to the Graham County Hospital Board. Tom Biggs received more votes than Acord, but Biggs withdrew from the race.

All results are unofficial. Votes in Graham County will be official after they are canvassed Nov. 15.