Independent vote in Island County moves to Obama

Published 8:30 am Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Iraq, economy are major issues

Independent voters in Island County were leaning toward Barack Obama as president, but many also said they were skeptical Monday that either presidential candidate would be able to do much to fix the problems facing the country.

The Record interviewed independents in every voting area on Whidbey and Camano islands, and many said they were basing their vote on the war in Iraq. The war was a top issue for cross-party voters in the “blue wave” of the 2006 election, according to Record exit polls at the time, and voters continue to say that was the biggest issue driving their votes in the 2008 presidential race.

Historically, Island County has voted for Republicans, though that’s expected to change this year after Obama’s strong showing in the county during the February caucuses and the February presidential primary, where the Democratic candidate for president eclipsed Republican John McCain’s vote total and more people cast votes for Democratic candidates than votes for Republicans.

Island County has been a bellweather in recent presidential elections. The county voted for George Bush in 2000; he won with 48 percent of the vote. Al Gore finished with 44 percent, and Ralph Nader, 4.4 percent. In 2004, Bush claimed 50 percent of the vote, and John Kerry won 46 percent.

North end

James Hedberg, 48, from the Hillcrest Precinct, said he registered as an independent voter during this year’s presidential primary because he just doesn’t like how the system is run.

“I want to be able to pick the right person for the job,” he said.

For Hedberg, healthcare is the main concern this year and, though he refused to say who he voted for, he’s hoping there will be change coming from this election.

Tobie Ward Johnson, 57, from Penn Cove, voted for McCain because she thinks he’ll do a better job getting the economy back on track, though she admitted concerns about the continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Neither party has all the answers.” she said.

Though she blamed Wall Street for the current financial crisis, she thinks businesses have taken a bad rap.

“Those in business have to have a reason to make a living,” Johnson said.

“If you don’t take care of people who have money, that money won’t support the middle class and those with very little,” she said.

Penn Cove is an Oak Harbor-area precinct with roughly 350 active voters; 19 people declined to pick a party during the presidential primary in February. The precinct voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004.

Thomas Lloyd, 74, another voter in the Penn Cove Precinct, said he’s an independent and wants to know what the truth is, from either side, on every subject.

“Rossi did this, Gregoire did that; what’s the real truth in their campaign ads? I’m tired of it and that’s why I voted for Ralph Nader. I’m disturbed by a lot of what the Republicans are doing because of the economy. There’s too much garbage on both sides.”

Healthcare changes are important to him. Lloyd added that he’s being denied Medicare reimbursement for special bandages required by his surgeon.

“Maybe someone new can change things for the better,” he said.

In the Hastie Lake Precinct, Gynon Nash, 46, is worried about the economy.

“Making sure that families can survive with the prices for everything, especially food,” she said.

Nash voted for Obama because of his social policies.

“Yes, this election is important — all of them are,” she said. “We’re at a crossroads where people are willing to look at alternatives in healthcare and energy and he’s the right man to make it happen.”

Hastie Lake has about 280 active voters, and 15 were non-party voters in the February primary. The precinct went in a big way for Bush in 2000, when the Republican candidate earned 64 percent of the vote, and Bush gained the precinct in 2004, picking up 70 percent of the precinct vote.

Jim Wihlborg, 64, said it was a toss-up between the war and the economy.

“I see Iraq as another Vietnam; when the war’s over, it will help the economy,” the Hastie Lake voter said.

Central Whidbey

William Engle, 72, has been an independent voter for more than 50 years. He lives in the Prairie Precinct, a Central Whidbey-area precinct with 731 active voters. It’s a swing precinct, voting for Bush in 2000, but Kerry and Gregoire in 2004.

“I’ve always voted for the person I thought was the best person for the job,” Engle said.

His past presidential voting record is bipartisan, having voted for Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter and, now, for Barack Obama.

“I sure didn’t vote for Bush last time,” Engle said.

Engle said he really had a struggle this year because he didn’t care for either choice for president. But he ultimately went with Obama because the war is one of the most important issues for him.

“I think we need to get out of that war,” he said.

“I didn’t vote for McCain for that reason. We should be doing more for our own people in this country. We’ve been the bad guy for too long; we need to be the good guy for a change and stop wasting billions of our own money over there.”

Although voting for Obama was a difficult choice, Engle said he thinks Obama is more sincere than McCain about wanting to help people in this country.

“I see McCain as too big-business,” he said.

Engle voted for Christine Gregoire for governor, though he wasn’t happy with that choice, either.

When asked if this election was important to him, Engle was adamant.

“In some ways it is the most important one I’ve ever voted in; this country is in the biggest mess it’s ever been in my lifetime,” Engle said.

Dolores B. Morris, another Prairie Precinct voter, said she was a straight-party Democrat years ago, but not anymore.

The 79-year-old Morris has been voting for more than 50 years and can’t remember when she switched to become an independent, but she does remember that it was because she didn’t like who was running for president on the Democratic ticket.

Eight years ago, Morris voted for Bush.

“I’m sorry I did. It is much to my regret now,” Morris said.

She did not vote for Bush four years ago, however, and instead picked Kerry.

Her ticket was split this time, having voted Republican with John McCain for president and Gregoire for governor.

Gregoire has done a good job for the state, she said, and raised the minimum wage — an important issue to Morris, especially while she was employed.

She said she is not happy about having Sarah Palin on the ticket.

“I don’t like all this farce about her clothes and glasses, how much she paid to wear certain things. What has that got to do with being vice president?”

Morris said she likes Obama, but thinks he’s too young to understand everything the next president will face.

“They all give a good picture of what they plan to do, but when they get in, they don’t know their butt from their elbow,” she said.

The issue that is foremost in Morris’ mind is healthcare.

As a retired senior citizen living on a fixed income, Morris has first-hand knowledge of what’s wrong with the current system. “Seniors don’t get enough care,” she said.

“I used to be a visiting nurse’s aid, but things have changed; I’m one who needs care now.”

Morris said she will most likely remain an independent voter, and that every election is an important one for her.

“There hasn’t been a year that I voted that I wasn’t worried what was going to happen,” Morris said. “They all seem to want to tax us ’til our teeth come out.”

South Whidbey

Warren Fitzpatrick, 87, from the Deer Lake precinct, is going all the way for McCain, even though he doesn’t always vote a straight party ticket.

“This is the most important election ever because there’s a clear choice between big government versus individual responsibility,” he said.

“I think Obama is a socialist; his whole background and who he associates with gives that clear impression. He says one thing and means another.

“His pastor for many years was basically a Communist,” Fitzpatrick added.

Deer Lake is one of 15 precincts in the county with more than 1,000 active voters; 86 voted in the primary but did not pick a party. The precinct was won by Gore in 2000 and Kerry in 2004.

Mary Oxrieder, 58, from the Saratoga Precinct said she never votes the party ticket, preferring to evaluate each issue and candidate on the merits as she sees them.

“My biggest concern is how we’re viewed internationally,” she said. “I voted for Barack Obama because I feel he will have a positive impact on the world. If McCain gets in, we’ll have more of the same.”

The Saratoga Precinct, with roughly 1,066 active voters, is one of the largest precincts in the county and has consistently voted for Democratic candidates for president in previous elections.

Ron Torrey, 69, from the Saratoga Precinct, often crosses party lines, and is a senior citizen on a fixed income.

“I’ve never voted the straight ticket; I voted for Perot and Nader in years past,” Torrey said.

This year he supports Obama on the Democrat’s promise to drastically cut taxes for those making less than $35,000 from Social Security.

“Obama is saying the things I want to hear,” he said.

Donna Beaty, 76, from the Bush Point Precinct, always votes for whoever she feels will do the best job.

“I’m concerned that everyone should have access to and be able to afford healthcare in the greatest country in the world,” she said.

The precinct has 1,143 active voters, and was the third highest in numbers of voters (83) who refused to pick a party in the presidential primary. And while Bush Point Precinct has gone to the Democrats in the past two presidential elections, it voted for Rossi for governor in 2004.

Bush Point voters Robert Stark, 81, and Elaine Stark, 80, are going their own way.

“I voted for Gov. Gregoire this year but I didn’t vote for president,” Robert said.

“I left it blank. I figure whoever gets it, if people don’t like him, they can’t point their finger at me.”

Elaine Stark said she’s an independent, too, more or less.

“The economy has me worried on the national level, but it’s all about protecting the environment in the state and that’s why I voted for Gregoire.”

Stark added she’s just plain tired of the Republicans.

“Bush has made a mess of the country and McCain might be too much like him. I voted for Obama.”

Sally Cahill, 62, another Bush Point voter, just wants to get Bush “out of there” for what he and the GOP have done to the economy and the war.

She said she’s worried about McCain’s appointments to the Supreme Court if he wins.

“I’ve voted for both sides in the past but I find myself leaning more to the Democrats this year,” she said. “This year, I’m for Obama.”

Elizabeth Felt, a voter in the Double Bluff Precinct, voted last week. She doesn’t stick to party lines when casting her ballot.

“I think you lose the moral high ground when you pick a party,” she said, adding that she’s disagreed with both candidates and parties at times.

She said there were many issues on her mind, but the makeup of the courts was one of the big ones.

“It’s the judiciary,” she said, noting Obama’s background in constitutional law.

“He’s very calm and level-headed when it comes to his understanding of the Constitution.”

“When the Supreme Court judges are appointed, that’s the kind of mind I want behind the appointments.”

Felt, whose grandfather was a state Supreme Court judge, said she is actively engaged in the political process, well outside the bounds of an election campaign.

“I write my Congress people pretty much every week on different issues,” she said. “I watch how they vote.”

Two other issues were also vitally important, she said, when she picked Obama for president.

“It was his vote on the war in Iraq. And his eloquence in speaking.

“I know he’s sometimes criticized for being all speech and no substance. My understanding is that clear thinking always results in clear speech. So when somebody speaks eloquently, there’s always a thought process that goes behind it,” she said.

Double Bluff Precinct voted for Bush in 2000, but picked Kerry in 2004.

Felt, 44, said Obama’s work on social justice issues and poverty is admirable.

Even so, all four candidates, she said, would be welcome over for dinner.

“I like them all. That doesn’t mean I agree with them on certain issues,” she said.

Peggy Johnson, a voter in the Lone Lake Precinct, said she was skeptical that either candidate could do much if elected.

“There’s just a lot of promises that I don’t think any of them can totally commit to; they promise you the moon but when it comes down to it, you get a little bit or nothing,” she said.

She said the two presidential candidates have not been clear on the issues.

“Everything is important, but I have yet to really get a sense of where they all stand on anything,” said Johnson, 58.

“The economy has been important. And the war; I’d like to see the war come to an end.”

She said she voted last week.

“My husband and I were still batting it back and forth right up to the last minute,” Johnson said.

“It was almost an eeny, meeny, miny, mo,” she said. “It was just a hard, hard decision, because I don’t know what either one of them can really do.”

Tougher still is the pressure of people who have repeatedly asked her if she is a Republican or a Democrat.

“I’m an American and I love my country. And I will vote for the person who I feel will help me and help my country,” she said.

Though she declined to say who won her vote, she said she was concerned that Democrats would take control of the Congress and the White House.

“It should be fair and balanced. There should be a give and take, and there should be checks and balances,” Johnson said.

Lone Lake Precinct has voted overwhelmingly in favor of Democratic presidential candidates in prior presidential races. It’s one of the larger precincts in the county, with more than 1,000 active voters.

Allison Miller, a voter in the Lone Lake Precinct, said Monday she had not yet finished filling out her ballot.

She said the Iraq War would guide her decision. “I think we should be out.”

“What sealed the deal was I think Obama will get us out of Iraq faster than McCain. Ultimately that was the deciding factor,” she said.

Like other independents, she said she didn’t expect much from those who do win.

“Honestly, I don’t like politicians. I don’t really believe that there’s any politician that is authentic

“I don’t think they can be. I think that they’re a face,” she said. “It doesn’t really matter to me what they say. I’m not sure

I believe it,” said Miller, 36.

“I just have to make a decision based on my gut. I’m going to lean toward someone who is going to get us out of the war,” she said.

Not that her vote will amount to much.

“My husband is going Republican. We will negate each other again, so that’s a bummer,” Miller said.

Linda Tuck, 68, a voter in the Austin Precinct, cast her vote about 10 days ago.

“The economy is a mess. Who’s the best man to fix that and is it fixable?” she wondered.

Bernett Hamel, 84, a voter in the Freeland Precinct, said she became an independent voter four years ago, when she voted for John Kerry.

“I was a staunch Republican, born and raised,” she said. “But I’m not anymore.”

Why not? “Bush,” she said.

This year, she voted for Obama.

“Our standing with the world has deteriorated so badly,” she continued. “I just think we need to change our ways.

“I think this election is critical for our country right now,” she said. “I just like Obama and his message.”

“I think the biggest thing against McCain is Sarah Palin,” she added.

“I wouldn’t want her for president. She just turned me off.”

Freeland voted solidly for Democratic presidential candidates in the past two elections, and Bush’s popularity in the precinct dropped from a 36-percent share of the vote in 2000 to 33 percent in 2004. It has 488 active voters and posted a more than 60-percent turnout rate

Robert Hull, 54, another independent voter in the Freeland Precinct, said the most important issue for him was “credibility.”

He said he has been a regular and independent voter since he was 18, adding that this year’s election “has gone on far too long.”

“My allegiance is to God and country, not party,” he said.

“I’m really bothered by the economy,” he added. “As for healthcare, everybody wants it, but no one wants to pay for it. I would like to see them regulate the healthcare industry better.”

He said no matter how the presidential election goes, it will be historic, with either the first African American president, or the first woman vice president.

“I’m hoping it won’t be a watershed moment in a negative way, only in a positive way,” he said.

Dorothy Baumgartner, a voter in the Clinton Precinct, said the most important issue for her was the leadership of the country in terms of content and style.

“This election is the most important of my time as an eligible voter, and a pivotal moment in the history of the world,” said Baumgartner, 47.

Barbara Enberg, 62, is a longtime independent voter in the Possession Precinct, the southernmost precinct in Island County, and she voted for Obama.

“I lean mostly toward the Democratic ticket, but some years they just don’t have a good candidate,” she said.

“There’s just a lot at stake in these times,” she continued. “There’s a lot we need to keep an eye on.”

Enberg said she voted for Obama because of his positions on the economy and the war in Iraq.

“I’m a peace-loving person,” Enberg said. “I’m not for war.”

Possession Precinct voted for Gore in 2000 and Kerry in 2004, and also gave the most votes to Gregoire for governor.

Enberg said she voted for Rossi last time, but this time she voted for Gregoire.

“I didn’t like the way he ran his campaign,” she said. “His ads really turned me off. And I realized there’s a lot he’s not up-to-date on.”

Camano Island

On Camano Island, many independent voters were voting for McCain.

Maxine Knapik, who voted in the Camano Precinct, said she and her husband, Bernard, have been independent voters for years, “and I don’t think we’ve ever missed a vote.”

“We’ve always voted for the person or the issue,” she said.

Camano Precinct has voted for Democratic candidates in the past two elections, but most voters there chose Rossi in 2004.

She said they both voted for McCain, but the decision wasn’t easy.

“I think Obama’s going to win,” she said. “We were teetering, but finally voted for McCain.

“I’ve always liked McCain,” she added, “but I was very impressed with Obama.

I just don’t want for him to get too much of a mandate.

“I was quite impressed with both sides,” she said. “It kind of came down to what we decided at the last minute.”

“I hope whoever wins will be honorable and work for the good of people,” Bernard Knapik said.

Dwain Colby, 80, is a former Island County commissioner who now votes as an independent in Camano’s Mabana Precinct.

The Mabana Precinct voted for Bush in 2000, but switched to Kerry in 2004. It also gave the Republican candidate for governor the most votes in 2004. The precinct on Camano’s southern end has nearly 1,000 active voters.

“I’ve been Republican all my life,” Colby said, “but in the last eight years, my party has marched off and left me.”

Both he and his wife, Ruth, voted for Obama.

“I don’t like the way the country has been run,” said Colby, who served two terms on the Island County Board of Commissioners in the 1980s and 1990s. “The Republicans had a mandate and made an absolute mess out of the opportunity to do something for this country.”

“I think this is a terribly important election,” he said. “We’ve got to get the country back on track. This is our opportunity to do it.”

“I made up my mind right away,” added Ruth Colby, 80, who said she has always been an independent voter. “It didn’t take any time.”

Most important issue in the election?

“To eliminate the current administration and their policies,” she said.

She said that while she and her husband went for the Democrats nationally, they split the ticket on the state level, voting for a few Republicans, and for Gregoire for governor.

Yvette Beliot, an independent voter in Camano’s Triangle Cove Precinct, interrupted a call on her other phone line to say, “I’m voting for McCain. That’s all you need to know.”

She said she has been an independent for 15 years, and the biggest issues for her this year are the war in Iraq and the state of the economy.

She said she also voted for Rossi for governor, and for incumbent Democratic state Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen.

Triangle Cove Precinct voted Republican in the last two presidential elections. It has more than a 1,000 active voters.

David Stellrecht, 68, is a voter in the precinct. A retired metallurgist, he said he has voted regularly since he was

21 years old and has “always been an independent.”

He said this year he voted for Obama, “probably because of the magnitude of the budget deficit.”

“I feel the budget deficit of the Bush Administration is unacceptable, and I didn’t see any change with McCain,” he said.

“I don’t know how much change we’ll get with Obama, but hopefully there’ll be some.”

Retired Boeing worker Lawrence Miles, 70, voted as an independent in Camano’s Madrona Precinct, a precinct that went Bush’s way in 2000 and 2004.

“I was affiliated with the Republicans a long time ago,” he said, “but I’ve been an independent for 25 years.”

While he won’t say who he voted for for president this year, he did say he tried to choose “whoever spread the most credible BS.”

He said he ended up splitting his votes between Republicans and Democrats, but soon suffered election fatigue.

“I just think the whole election is insulting to people’s intelligence,” he said of the speeches and the ads. “It seemed a lot worse this year.”

Many independent voters contacted by the Record didn’t want to talk about the election. Many others declined to say how they voted.

Tuck, the Austin Precinct voter, was no different. But she did add that future presidential campaigns should follow a different path.

“Personally I think they should be given x amount of time to do their campaign and x amount of dollars,” she said.

She grew tired of the candidates “bashing each other back and forth. Come on, let’s get to the issues.”

“The bashing just makes me sick,” she said.

Some voters, like Felt in the Double Bluff Precinct, said they hoped the country could begin to heal after Nov. 4.

“I think the ideological divides in the country are really concerning,” Felt said.

It has been going on since the Clinton era, she said, but has since gotten worse.

“I would hope that whoever is elected can heal some of that, and we can unite as a country and get busy on the work that needs to be done,” Felt said.

This story was written by Roy Jacobson, Brian Kelly, Patricia Duff, Jeff VanDerford and Kelsie Fitzpatrick.