Hundreds of voters lined up at the Coronado Public Library on Tuesday – some waiting more than an hour to cast votes in a bitter presidential race and hard-fought local elections.
Old and new voters, who queued up at the city’s only official voting center, said their minds were on issues such as class representation, abortion and women’s rights as they prepared to mark ballots.
First time voter Stacey Kampbell, a 41-year-old Democrat, predicted the election outcome will be crucial in shaping the future of the nation.
“I do feel like our country is in danger if a certain person becomes a representative of our country, and I want to prevent that and keep everybody safe even just with a single vote,” said Kampbell. “I just feel like it’s time to get somebody in that can represent our country.”
Kampbell, who showed up with wife Sasha Robert, said he voted for presidential candidate Kamala Harris because she represents them best.
Meanwhile, Tina Andrew, 52, and Peter Andrew, 54, both Republicans, said they voted for Donald Trump because his policies align with biblical principles, including the right to life, that they believe in.
“We are total Trump supporters,” said Tina. “There’s a lot of things that I don’t agree with, but he is by far the better person to vote for. I do believe that our country will be in a world of trouble if Kamala becomes president.”
Local choices for voters
In exit interviews with The Coronado News, voters seemed far more focused on the presidential race than local politics. Some shared they marked their ballots for presidential and mayoral candidates, while making only one selection for City Council and School Board races. Few admitted leaving those spaces blank.
Mary Henry, 39, a Democrat, said she voted for Casey Tanaka for mayor.
“He was my history teacher in high school,” explained Henry. “He’s been in this community forever, so I think he’s going to look out for us.”
Henry said she voted for Amy Steward and Laura Wilkinson Sinton for City Council.
“A lot of people on both sides seem to really support her [Steward], and I love that,” she added.
Antonio Valladolid, a Republican, said he believes in protecting children and respect for religion.
Valladolid chose John Duncan for mayor because “his interests in Coronado are true at heart, he served already as a city councilman, he knows what he’s doing,” he said.
Valladolid, 51, said he voted for Mark Warner and Mark Fleming for seats in City Council while Fitzhugh Lee and Renee Cavanaugh were his choices for school board.
Victoria Surdykowski, 52, said she voted Shawnee Barton Merriman for school board.
“She’s got four kids in the district … so she’s really invested in the future,” said Surdykowski, who joined Merriman on Orange Avenue to campaign throughout the day.
Surdykowski said she supported Christine Mott to increase women representation on council and for her advocacy work on the sewage crisis and saving trees in Coronado.
Billy Canu, 42, said he believes in a balanced viewpoint, and voted Bill Sandke for school board for that reason.
“Equality for us is like a big point,” said Canu referring to his husband. “Our son’s behind any decision we ever make now. I think that we want a world where everyone can feel safe to be who they are.”
