Voters feel sense of civic duty

One year removed from one of the more noteworthy presidential elections, signified by massive turnout, local resident were at the polls this morning in smaller numbers, but with no less a feeling of civic duty.

From Windham to Coventry and many other towns in the area, a variety of issues motivated people to cast their votes in today’s municipal elections.

Many were driven to the polls - which will close throughout the state by 8 p.m. - citing economic issues while others said they were simply performing a civic duty.

Most agreed they could have the greatest impact by voting on the local level.

“I think these are the elections in which the voters can have a direct impact on policy,” said Robert Asher, 65, of Willimantic, who was voting this morning at Windham High School.

Since the state is investing and distributing less money locally, Asher said economic development and expanding the business tax base in town were his main concerns.

“The way not to hit the local taxpayer is to have more business. I hope the new town council and town manager will make economic development their first priority,” he said.

This election, Windham will put in office a new town council and a new mayor to replace the outgoing board of selectmen and first selectman - a function of the 2007 charter change.

Town Manager Neal Beets began work last week, signifying the start of a new government system in the Thread City.

Brad Plabani, 57, of Willimantic, shared similar sentiments on voter impact and economic development.

“This is the government that probably affects me most on a day-to-day basis,” he said.

Plabanis said he voted because of issues surrounding the magnet school and to support economic development in general.

“Development is something that needs to happen in town,” he said.

Lifelong Coventry resident and war veteran John Twerdy, 67, said he voted as part of his civic duty.

This morning, Twerdy was filling in dots and placing his votes at the Coventry Volunteer Firehouse off Route 31.

“It’s my obligation as an American to make sure we get the right people in there to keep the world going around,” Twerdy said.

Not voting, he said, would have dire consequences for the country.

Matt Dizigan of Coventry and Hazel Rubins, 85, of Mansfield, agreed that voting was an integral part of one’s civic duty.

“It’s local politics that affect you directly, and more people should take an interest,” Dizigan said at the firehouse poll site in Coventry.

“Voting is important because we’re Americans and we need to keep our government running,” Rubins said while voting at the Mansfield Community Center.

The broader issue of the economic recession seemed to affect voters on an individual level and perhaps served as a catalyst to push people to the polls.
In Coventry, teacher Joan Meldurm said she was voting to support education policy because it affected her directly.

“I work at the school and we need money for the budget, to support our school,” she said at the firehouse.

As voters this morning filtered into polling locales in Windham, Helen Bacon, an assistant moderator at the Windham High School polling location, said turnout is always different, but people tend to head to the polls at similar times.

“The busiest times are early in the morning before work and around dinner time after work, between 5 and 6 p.m.,” she said.