Raucous caucus

MAT-SU — Valley voters flooded party caucus precincts Tuesday to overflowing, at one point prompting 911 emergency calls and visits from fire code officials.

More than 2,100 Republicans and more than 700 Democrats cast ballots on Super Tuesday for their presidential favorites and, hands down, Valley voters prefer Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. While local Republicans prefer Romney, the GOP challenger suspended his campaign Thursday as four-term U.S. Senator John McCain tightened his grip on his party’s nomination. McCain received the least votes of Valley Republicans. For local Democrats, Obama garnered 28 of the local party’s 36 delegates to the state convention, with U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton getting the other eight.

While eager voters flocked to participate in Super Tuesday, too many at two caucus places sparked safety concerns with Mat-Su Borough’s fire safety officials. At the Grand View Inn in Wasilla, Democrats expected a turnout of about 300 and were overwhelmed when more than 700 showed up.

“We were receiving 911 calls for the people who were in there because it was so crowded,” said Michael Keenan, acting fire chief for Central Mat-Su Fire Department.

When a fire code official responded, “He couldn’t get into the building initially.” Keenan said. “Then, when my fire code guy got inside, he couldn’t get back out. That’s how crowded it was.”

In the end, Democrats were moved to Wasilla High School, which could accommodate more people, said Carolyn Covington, state party secretary. Although the turnout was much more than expected, Covington said it sends a good message about people’s willingness to participate in a public process.

“It was really wonderful,” she said. “It was a little chaotic. At most, I though we’d get 300 and we kind-of prepared for 300.”

In Talkeetna, 57 Democrats voted in the caucus, which is more than the party had in the Valley in 2004.

The story was nearly the same for Republicans, who packed the Palmer Train Depot and the Regan Building in Wasilla, said Jim Turner, regional party chairman. Voters waited patiently in sub-zero weather and wind to cast their ballots, Turner said.

“As a matter of fact, considering how long people had to wait, their attitude was pretty good,” he said. “I’d have to say everybody did pretty well, considering. People like to get involved in this kind of thing. It’s been a very competitive race so far.”

Turner had 600 ballots printed up, but was prepared when more than triple that amount filed in to vote at the local precincts.

“I brought my copier with me just in case, and I’m glad I did,” he said.

“We were definitely not planning for that many people,” added Cheryl Turner, Jim Turner’s wife and party volunteer. “I was very surprised. I was very, very happy to see that many people out.”

She said she regrets that some may have been frustrated by long lines or lack of parking and didn’t vote.

At the Regan Building, a visit from a fire code official prompted clearing out the building and reorganizing the crowd, but a change of venue was not needed, Keenan said.