Tropical Storm Berta’s lightning, thunder, slanting rain and gusty winds posed challenges for voters and the candidate’s supporters at Saturday’s primary election on St. John.
“My raincoat is covering up the T-shirts,” Myia Powell said as a stiff gust of wind lifted up the canopy that provided shelter from the elements outside St. John’s only polling place, Julius E. Sprauve School.
The turnout, as expected, was slow. Primary elections don’t usually draw a large amount of voters, and the tropical storm was an added incentive to stay home.
“Every vote counts today,” Tom Krall said.
Miles Stair said it was important to have a voice in who makes the general election ballot in November.
“And committed, caring people will always come out to vote,” he said.
Jimmy Dalmida, who said he was a write-in candidate for chairman of the St. John Democratic District, said that if people don’t vote, nothing will change.
“If the senators give mediocre service, fire them,” he said.
Alvis Christian Jr. pointed out that only about one-quarter of St. John’s residents vote, a number that isn’t much of an incentive for politicians to listen.
“And more than a quarter of the people complain,” he said as a particularly strong gust of wind sent a canopy airborne.
Christian was on hand to support Sen. Shawn-Michael Malone’s campaign for delegate to Congress.
Except for Steven Payne, who was supporting his brother, Sen. Clarence Payne, in his bid for re-election to the Legislature, all the other supporters were there for candidates running for governor and lieutenant governor.
Powell was part of the largest contingent of supporters at the school. They were backing the Donna Christensen/Basil Ottley team.
“We have to support our next lady governor,” Aileen Marsh said.
The Gregory Francis/Patrick Sprauve team had only one supporter at around 10 a.m., but Krall was fervent.
“He’s a good man,” Krall said, adding that he actually preferred the wet weather to the usual broiling skies that face primary election supporters.
He also noted that since he was born in Iowa, which gets lots of electrical storms, the thunder and lightning overhead didn’t worry him too much.
The team of Moleto Smith Jr./Hubert Frederick had a two-person youthful contingent on hand. William Smith, 17, who braved the elements with his brother, Christopher Smith, 13, said the candidate couldn’t get to St. John in person because the ferries weren’t running.
The Adlah Donastorg/Angel A. Torres team had one person braving the weather.
“I feel like he’s the right man,” Jesse Jackson said, summing up the reason why most of the supporters turned out.
