UPDATE: Local races drawing Danville residents to polls

Voter turnout update, as of 6:30 p.m.

“I don’t think we’ll make my prediction of 42-45 percent turnout. I don’t know if we’ll make 40 — it looks like it might be more like 35 or 37.”

She said Glenwood had reported 28 percent voting; Forest Hills, 46 percent; Doyle Thomas Park, 24 percent.

Not all precincts are reporting in — they don’t have to, but they give the preliminary turnout numbers as they call in for other things.

Pittsylvania County Registrar Jenny Lee Sanders:

“This is the quiet before the storm.”

Turnout has been moderate. Saunders said at 3 p.m. the precincts that reported in ranged from 34 percent to 40 percent turnout.

— Denice Thibodeau

Updated 3:55 p.m.

George Grubb, 37, voted for Lt. Mike Mondul and Claudette Robertson.

He said both of them are friends and both are excellent candidates.

He agreed with Mondul’s cooperative approach toward law enforcement. The sheriff candidate has spoken about increasing cooperation between the city’s sheriff office and police department.

Grubb said he agrees with Robertson’s stance on open file discovery. She has said that she would give defendants both incriminating evidence and evidence that points to a person’s innocence. The commonwealth’s attorney office only gives defendants evidence that points to their innocence.

“You’re still hopefully presumed innocent until proven guilty,” Grubb said. “If their freedom is up for grabbs, every avenue needs to be examined.”

Grubb voted at Grove Park Preschool.

518 voters have cast ballots at Grove Park Preschool as of 1:48 p.m.

Chief Election Official Pattie DeShazor said the turnout has been steady but slow.

Voters had lined up this morning, waiting for the polls to open.

They have come in groups, she said. The busiest periods were before lunch, early in the morning, DeShazor said.

She predicted the next rush would come around 3 p.m.

Lewis Goodman Jr., 73, voted for Jim Martin and Lt. Thelbert Childress.

“I voted for Jim Martin because he’s the scholar of the group,” Goodman said.

He added that Martin writes briefs, which he likes. Martin also prosecuted a landmark drug case that involved the death of a drug user because the dealer tainted the drugs he sold.

Goodman said he voted for Childress because of his experience in the Danville Sheriff’s Office.

He said Mondul should stay with the Danville Police Department.

“I think he has a future in the police department,” Goodman said.

Goodman voted at Grove Park Preschool.

Adriaenne Tate, 36, and Doris Harvey, 66, voted for Lt. Mike Mondul and Claudette Robertson.

They said Robertson stopped by their house. Tate said that her boss recommended Robertson because of work they did together.

The two women said they voted for Mondul just because.

Tate and Harvey voted at Woodrow Wilson Magnet School.

So did Lasheri King, 26, voted for Lt. Thelbert Childress and Michael Newman.

She said she voted for Childress because she was not fond of Lt. Mike Mondul’s actions at the Danville Police Department.

“I didn’t like how he tried to rush everything under the bridge,” she said. “We should be informed of certain things.”

King said she saw Newman’s commercials and agreed with his message.

-- Matt Tomsic

Updated 3:30 p.m.

A handful of Pittsylvania County polling locations may not have been crowded, but local election officers told Danville Register & Bee staff writer Catherine Amos they have been pleased with a steady voter turnout throughout the morning and early afternoon.

At Brosville Elementary School, election officer Teressa Hairston said things had been running smoothly despite this being the first year county officers have used laptops instead of paper poll books.

“Voter turnout has been steady all day,” Hairston said. “I’m really kinda surprised. We’ve been pleased so far.”

Many voters said they voted a straight Republican ticket, including Delegate Danny Marshall, R-14th District. Most said that jobs were a main concern.

“I voted a straight Republican ticket because I’m conservative,” said Earline Law. “All these people that are unemployed — it’s pitiful.”

Law said she has always been a regular voter.

“If you don’t vote, you don’t have room to criticize,” Law said.

Raleigh resident Randy Soyars drove up to help his mother, Beryl Soyars, vote because she was not used to the touch screen.

“I love going in ’cause you get to see your friends,” Beryl said as she caught up with Hilda Weddle. “I voted for (McDonnell) because he talks my language. From keeping up with the news, I think he is gonna be a great governor.”

Thaddeus Smith said he voted for all Democrats, including Seward Anderson, because his mother advised him to. Because he works a 12-hour day for his job, Smith said he has not had time to familiarize himself with the candidates.

Shirley Thomas also voted for a straight Democratic ticket. She said the school system, government and the economy were her top concerns.

At the Bachelors Hall Fire Volunteer Department, election officer Carolyn Mills said the balmy weather probably played a factor in attracting voters to the polls.

Penny Merricks, like many others, said she voted for all Republicans based on the top of the ticket — gubernatorial hopeful Bob McDonnell.

“The main one I voted for was McDonnell,” she said. “He supports the sportsmen and I live with three hunters… The main one I’ve kept up with is McDonnell.”

Jack Williams voted the same way.

“I think (Republicans) are the best choice for our economy,” Williams said.

At the Ringgold Volunteer Fire Department, election officer John McCain said there have not been any issues since early this morning when the electronic poll books presented a few problems.

“Just some technical difficulties this morning,” McCain said. “We ironed those out as soon as possible.”

He said about 25 percent of voters had voted by early afternoon and he expected a heavy flow in the late afternoon and early evening.

-- Catherine Amos

Updated 12:54 p.m.

Signs crowded the front lawn of I. W. Taylor Elementary School on Piney Forest Road to greet residents as they parked to vote.

Danville Register & Bee staff writer Tara Bozick also greeted voters outside.

Adrian Bethel, a 33-year-old social services worker, walked past the signs to cast his vote. He sent out a mass text from his cell phone earlier to remind all of his friends and family to get out on Election Day.

“Don’t just vote for the president, vote for the stuff that really matters in the city,” Bethel said he told them.

Bethel said he was still deciding between Delegate Danny Marshall (Republican) and contender Seward Anderson (Democrat) for the House of Delegate’s 14th District as he walked to the poll.

He also found the Danville city sheriff’s race interesting. Bethel knows all three candidates and thinks any of them would do a good job. He just wants city leaders to get tough and more involved.

“I think crime is the biggest issue,” Bethel said. “Danville’s getting bad.”

People may also know Bethel from him working in the Belk’s men’s store.

Sharon Stokes, Head Start nutrition manager, voted for Democrats. She thinks education and crime are the more important issues.

Stokes likes the idea of a drug court to help and rehabilitate drug users.

Voter Dan White, pastor of Calvary Church of the Nazarene in Danville, voted Republican because they share his values.

He’s proud of the city of Danville and said it’s his “duty” to vote. While he voted on shared values, he would also like to see more jobs come to the area.

Sheila Baynes, Danville Democratic Committee chair, handed out “sample ballot” fliers to show voters how to vote a Democrat ticket.

Baynes plans to visit the polling places for different precincts. She stands with telephone in hand to keep track of voter turnout at precincts where the committee expects good Democratic turnout.

Campaigners talked to each other about their efforts and why they’re volunteering their time for candidates while waiting for voters.

College student Terrance Cooper, 19, got involved in an election for the first time because he knew city sheriff candidate Lt. Thelbert Childress. He started campaigning just this morning after he voted himself.

“For me, the crime rate and youth deaths going on – that’s the issue,” Cooper said. “I just want to encourage people to come out and vote. You’re not going to accomplish anything sitting at home. You have to get out and vote.”

Brenda Dix, who lives in Milton, N.C., campaigned for her son-in-law and commonwealth’s attorney candidate Michael Newman.

She and Michele Edwards of Ringgold arrived at the school at 6 a.m. They sat together in pop-out lawn chairs while eating fast food breakfasts.

Joe Fugate hung out with them while he campaigned for commonwealth’s attorney candidate Claudette Robertson. He knew Robertson and lived nearby, so he walked across the street to work the poll.

They called Edwards a “poster child” as she wore a sign that looked like a sample ballot checking off city sheriff candidate Lt. Mike Mondul. Edwards started campaigning for Mondul in November 2008.

The group of campaigners said they try not to be obnoxious to voters. They’ve been having fun and laughing a lot.

Dix understands most people have already made up their minds on candidates, but she likes hearing from the voters about how they support a candidate. She appreciates the feedback.

“It’s nice to know you’re not wasting your time,” Dix said.

“Hopefully, at the end of the day, it will be worth it,” Edwards added.

Meanwhile, polls at the Ringgold and Tunstall fire stations were late opening Tuesday morning, causing some voters to leave before they could vote, according to Pittsylvania County Registrar Jenny Lee Sanders.

Sanders said the poll workers at the two locations had trouble setting up the new electronic poll books, causing them to open late. She did not know how long it was before they opened, but estimated about 15 or 20 minutes after 6 a.m.

“The chief and staff (in Ringgold) had difficulty opening up this morning,” Sanders said, “and they had some impatient people and they wanted to get in and vote… It’s just human error.”

Sanders said she had spoken with the election chief in Ringgold and said “he was very upset over it.” She said she was under the impression that the poll workers “neglected to keep track of the time” while setting up the new equipment before opening the polls.

Voters at the Tunstall Fire Station faced a similar problem, Sanders said.

“If people left, I don’t have any control over that,” Sanders said. “Certainly no one was turned away.”

The polls have been open and operating successfully since this morning, Sanders said. There have been no other reported problems in the county.

--Tara Bozick and Catherine Amos

Updated 10:10 a.m.

The Danville Police Department office at Green and Park streets saw a steady stream of voters walking in from around the neighborhood.

Danville Register & Bee staff writer Tara Bozick checked in with why they came out to vote.

One voter, Sandra Conway, votes in every election. Now retired, Conway grew up in the ‘50s and ‘60s during a time when blacks had to fight for their rights.

“Voting for me is important,” Conway said. “I have a say-so in the city of Danville.”

Conway would like to see Danville’s crime cleaned up. She hates learning about the shootings of Danville’s young black men. She wants community leaders to set up neighborhood watches and work to get criminals convicted.

She understands police are working hard, but they can only do so much on their own.

Secondly, Conway would like to see jobs brought to Danville. She understands city leaders have been bringing jobs, but voters and residents need to keep reminding them it’s an important issue.

Coranetta Price considers it an “honor” to vote.

“I’m always praying for God to restore Danville,” Price said. “That’s why I’m voting.”

Campaigners Alonzo Jones and Angelo Anderson made sure to hand Price literature on why she should vote for Lt. Thelbert Childress for city sheriff. Tramain Fuller, who goes to church with Childress, helped them out.

Campaigner Tricia Ellis stood on the sidewalk and wore a sign showing passersby why they should vote for Lt. Mike Mondul for city sheriff.

Deputy J. Wayne Booth is also running for Danville city sheriff.

Updated 9:21 a.m.

A steady stream of voters entered the Ballou Park Recreation Center off West Main Street this morning. Danville Register & Bee staff writer Tara Bozick talked with voters outside about the importance of voting and the issues that brought them to the polls.

Candidates in local races popped in to visit with voters and thank them for their vote. While they make the rounds to visit the various polls in the city, they're enlisting family, friends and campaign staff to maintain a presence outside the polls.

One voter, Susan Foster, wants to support Democratic candidates. She’s been living in Danville a little more than a year and thinks people can’t complain about leadership and government unless they vote.

“It’s important to have a voice in how things happen in society and government,” Foster said. “This is a great race, the governor’s race.”

The issues that concern her most are health care and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

James and Lenora Scearce also voted along party lines. They want to see Republicans back in office.

“We want to make sure we have strong people in Virginia,” Lenora Scearce said. “The beliefs they have our are beliefs.”

The Scearces want to make sure the military continues to receive needed support. Their son wants to join the military after graduating high school. Locally, they want to see the creation or retention of jobs.

Teri and David Hairston voted on issues that affect them personally: the creation of jobs, increasing pay for existing jobs and for the public safety of the city.

Teri Hairston works as a security officer yet makes minimum wage. She said Danville needs a change when people risk their lives and get paid the minimum.

David Hairston, who has disabilities, has been waiting three years for his disability benefits. He would like to see more efficiency in government.

“People got to eat out here and survive,” David Hairston said.

Ronnie Boyle said he had plenty of personal reasons to vote. Most importantly, he said it’s an American right and he wants to support the country.

Boyle encourages everyone to vote. Boyle has voted regularly for the past 15 years.

Jimmy Newman campaigned with a cup of coffee in one hand and fliers in the other.

“That’s my son,” he said, pointing to Michael Newman’s name. Michael Newman is running for commonwealth’s attorney.

Staffers campaigned for Claudette Robertson, another candidate for commonwealth’s attorney, in front of a truck with her huge photo and name on the side.

Jim Martin is also in the commonwealth’s attorney race.