CLARKSBURG -- City Clerk Annette Wright is hoping for good voter turnout for today's municipal election.
"But, I think the weather will be bad, which tends to keep people away," Wright said Monday. "If it rains, people tend to stay home, especially the older folks, and most of our voters are older."
Wright has been working very hard this spring to encourage people to vote. She also has been trying to get more young people involved in the process.
"We've been trying to get into the schools. A lot of the seniors didn't realize that if they're 18 by (today), they can vote in this election," she said. "We've been registering a lot of seniors."
Today's election is the culmination of months of work for Wright. As the weeks counted down, she said the workload gradually shifted until she was doing mostly election preparation.
Last-minute poll worker cancellations kept Wright busy most of Monday as she tried to replace the workers who backed out.
"There's a new law that will help the municipalities beginning next year. We will be able to use poll workers outside the city as long as they live within the county," she said.
Right now, poll workers must be registered voters who live within the city.
Eleven candidates are vying for four open seats on council, while six candidates are hoping to claim one of two open seats on the Clarksburg Water Board.
Running for council are incumbents James C. Hunt, Sam "Zeke" Lopez, Kathy Folio and Terry J. Greaver. Also, Paul DuPont, Dan Thompson, Allen G. Saoud, Patsy S. Trecost II, Tom Flynn, Ralph Pedersen and Bob Silvis.
For the Water Board race, candidates are Jack Keeley, Louis J. Iquinto, Patricia "Pat" D'Anselmi, Anthony "Tony" Olivito, Albert N. Cox and Harold V. Tate. D'Anselmi currently serves on the board but was appointed. She is a first-time candidate.
Staff writer James Fisher can be reached at 626-1446 or by e-mail at jfisher@exponent-telegram.com
