Poll Workers Seeing Heavy Turnout

Poll workers throughout Westfield are reporting heavy turnout in today's Board of Education and school budget election.

Poll workers said voters started arriving at 7 a.m. when polls opened and a steady stream have been arriving during the day. After school let out at 3 p.m. poll workers at several schools reported turnout increasing. At Jefferson in the late afternoon a steady stream of voters was coming and out of the building to vote from the third and fourth wards.

"It's been busy," a Jefferson poll worker said. "This morning was steady now it is busier."

Jefferson reported 387 voters by 4 p.m. today. Franklin saw 333 voters by 5 p.m. this afternoon, with workers saying the turnout was high.

"I think it is seems to be high," a Franklin worker said. "It is better than past school board elections."

At Washington School, which was a hotbed of activity during last year's election with the redistricting issue dominating discussion, poll workers reported 487 voters by 5:15 p.m. this afternoon. Washington poll workers said there have been more senior citizens voting than in past school board elections. While seniors are a high voting block in most elections, school elections tend to be dominated by young families and parents.

"We have more seniors than normal," the worker said.

Parents questioned were split on whether they voted for the proposed $89.3 million school budget. Several said they voted no in order to send a message that more cuts were needed. Those who voted yes said they were voting in favor because they do not want to see more cuts and they want budget decisions made by the Board of Education and School Superintendent Margaret Dolan and not by Mayor Andy Skibitsky and the Town Council.

"I have two children in the schools," a parent buying ice cream outside Wilson School said. "I like what our superintendent does. I don't want to go outside her jurisdiction."

Susanna McClain, a Wilson parent and outspoken pro budget activist, has continued her campaigning for the budget. She has sent out an e-mail to parents throughout Westfield advocating a yes vote on the spending plan. She said from her knowledge the e-mail has been sent around to other voters in town.

Not all Wilson parents agreed with McClain.

"I think that cuts have to be made," a parent said. "Sacrifices have to be made and it can't be at the taxpayers expense."