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Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Election Day Scene: Radnor watcher expects 20-25 pct turnout

Inquirer staff writer Bonnie Cook reports:

William A. Spingler, a Radnor Township commissioner from the Third Ward, stood outside Radnor's Fifth Ward precinct at 270 S. Bryn Mawr Ave., formerly American University and now the Jewish Federation's Radnor Campus.

He was wearing a tie with tiny donkeys on it to underscore his Democratic affiliation and campaigning for John Nagel, the Democrat attempting to unseat interim Republican commissioner Ernie Shapiro.

Shapiro was given the seat vacated in September by commissioner Lisa Paolino.

Spingler characterized today's election as a "regional" election. He said many voters will come out to vote for a Barack Obama with national appeal, but are less likely to vote for local candidates if they don't follow local politics.

"People don't come out and vote for people they don't know," Spingler said. "There's nothing to get them excited in this election except maybe the school board."

But disinterest on the part of electorate can work to help some candidates, he said.

"With these local elections, if only 25 percent are voting and 75 percent are not coming out, it only takes 13 percent to win."

Spingler said 75 to 80 percent of voters showed up at the polls in 2008 when Obama ran. He expected 20 to 25 percent of voters to turn out in Radnor Township today.

Inside the polling place, 59 people had voted by mid-morning. Peggy Gaskin, a Democratic poll worker for 30 years, called the turnout "poor." She said the statewide judges' races were not a big draw for voters.

Rob Armstrong, 43, a Democratic candidate for the Radnor Township School Board, dashed in to vote.

"If you don't vote, you can't make changes in how things are run," he said. Armstrong is running on a slate with Brucie Rapoport, Doug Blazey and Lydia Solomon.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 3:45 PM  Permalink | 2 comments
Comments   
Posted 05:30 PM, 11/03/2009
longshanks
It will be the usual in the burbs. High Republican turnout voting for Republicans. And then Republican whiners bellyache about Dems voting for Dems in the city. When Republicans vote Dem then I'll vote Republican. Won't ever happen.
Posted 05:46 PM, 11/03/2009
Jeff
270 S. Bryn Mawr Ave. actually used to be American College, not American University. American University is in Washington, D.C.
2 comments