Voter turnout healthy despite weather

WASILLA — It’s been a blockbuster of an election on a statewide level and if anecdotal evidence from local polling places are any indication, the high drama has driven voters to the polls.

Shortly before 9:30 a.m. the electronic ballot box at Finger Lake Elementary had counted more than 90 votes. By 11:50 a.m. poll workers at Wasilla city hall said 350 voters had handed in ballots, a turnout they described as “impressive.” The state Division of Elections branch office in the Northfork Professional Building on Bogard Road reported a “steady” stream of voters.

Those voters were showing up despite slow traffic, multiple car wrecks and the first major snowfall of the season.

Weather could likely be blamed for the fact that shortly before noon, the Parks Highway/Palmer-Wasilla Highway intersection, usually prime real estate for sign wavers, was nearly deserted with just two stalwart Joe Miller supporters.

Carl Gatto, Palmer’s Republican representative to the state house, got to sit this election out; no one filed to run against him in the general election.

“I have not been idle. We have been helping other candidates either in fundraising or in just conversations with encouragement,” he said.

He and his Wasilla counterpart, Wes Keller, both chose to endorse Miller in the race for U.S. Senate. That’s the race that has been the show-stopper this season after Miller took down incumbent Lisa Murkowski in the primary and Murkowski, in turn, mounted a write-in campaign. With Democrat Scott McAdams, it’s a three-way race that’s been grabbing headlines nationwide.

Gatto said he has been glued to the election both in Alaska and nationally. He’s got an eye on races in Washington state and in Nevada.

“I’m just like a lot of people in the country. I would like to see a major change in Washington,” he said.

He said he plans on spending the day in Anchorage, rubbing elbows with other party members and watching results come in.

“People are sick of this election but not me. This is stuff that I thoroughly, I don’t want to use the word enjoy, but I feel like I’m a part of the activity,” Gatto said.

By which he meant part of a movement.

“That’s a good feeling,” he said.