Voters Answer Duty’s Call

Some wanted change. Others feared it.

Some came to oust a particular official from office. Others came to show their undying loyalty to a favored candidate.

But most voters in Eastern Washington’s 5th Congressional District cast ballots in Tuesday’s general election out of a sense of obligation.

“I always vote every time,” said Robert Schebor, who voted at the Naval Reserve Training Center on North Assembly in Spokane. “That’s one right they haven’t taken away from me yet.”

“I just come out to vote so I have the right to bitch,” said Diane McPherson after voting at the Spokane Valley Baptist Church.

By 3 p.m., more than 200 of the 600 voters registered in one Northwest precinct had already cast ballots. Another 100 had requested absentee ballots.

The number of issues and candidates on Tuesday’s crowded ballot prompted Schebor to study in advance. He brought along a sample ballot, carefully filled out after hours of reviewing brochures and voter’s guides.

For some, the enormity of the ballot was perplexing.

“The whole thing was confusing for me,” said Lynne Brekke, after voting at Holmes Elementary School in Spokane.

Renee Shores strolled from the polls at Holmes after doing her part for the revolution. “We’ve got to change things,” she said.

She voted for charter schools. She voted to eliminate the county coroner. She voted for change whenever possible.

Chewelah resident Kay Comer, an English and art teacher, wasn’t quite so adventurous. She feared “big brash changes,” and voted against the two school initiatives - charter schools and vouchers.

“I’m not saying there shouldn’t be some changes,” she said. “But I don’t think you need to cut your foot off.”

Another Chewelah resident who declined to give his name was drawn to the polls by Initiative 655, which would prohibit the use of bait to hunt bears and hounds to hunt cougars, bobcats and lynxes. “Until the bears have as many weapons as we do, let’s put things on an even footing,” said the man. “Let’em thin out their own damn herds.”

Presidential fever also lured voters.

Audra Gerou, 22, never felt the need to vote until this year, when a desire to rid the nation of President Clinton changed her ways.

“I wanted to exercise my rights as a citizen,” said Gerou, a college student voting at the Naval Training Center. “I’m definitely not for Clinton.”

Fellow college student Pat Kennedy, 25, also voted for the first time Tuesday - but for the opposite reason.

“I see enough difference between Dole and Clinton that I want to vote this time,” Kennedy said. “And I’ll vote for Clinton.”

JJ Wandler, also 25 and a college student, didn’t care for either major presidential candidate. “I voted for Ralph Nader,” he said.

By the time many voters were on their way home from work, the three major television networks were projecting Clinton the winner.

South Hill resident Dan Phillips didn’t care. He voted for Dole anyway at Manito United Methodist Church.

Election officials said others grumbled about the early presidential results, but the number of local and state issues and races on the ballot kept voters trickling into polling places until they closed.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Kristina Johnson Staff writer Staff writers Kim Barker, Tom Sowa, Jim Lynch, Brian Coddington and John Craig contributed to this report.