Don’t tell Bill Howland that voting is a waste of time.
“We have an election and you participate,” said the Riverside resident. “I like the feeling as though I had something to say about it.”
“It’ of course referred to Tuesday’s primary that featured three Greenwich residents: Linda McMahon, Tom Foley and Ned Lamont running for high office.
He said their entry may have made it a slightly more interesting race that the primary would have been otherwise for his fellow Greenwich residents.
Although he declined to say he voted for, Howland mentioned he was impressed that First Selectman Peter Tesei backed McMahon.
Fellow Republican voter Jan Jepsen also declined to say who she voted for, but said she wasn’t a straight ticket voter, that is didn’t automatically vote for the officially endorsed Republican candidates.
She said she is concerned about the economy and believed government spending had to be done conservatively.
Rick Tripodi, a Republican, who also voted at Julian Curtis School where Jensen cast her ballot said the economy is also a concern for him.
Like Jensen he also didn’t vote according to the party line, mentioning he was impressed with Ross Garber, who is running against Martha Dean for the Republican nod for attorney general.
On the Democratic side Cassandra Tribble, wife of Claude Johnson, the Democratic candidate for the 151st state representative district in Greenwich said she was torn about whether to vote for Greenwich resident Ned Lamont or former Stamford Mayor Dannell Malloy to be the Democrats candidate for governor.
“They are both very competent but I have to say I was a little put off by the negativity of Malloy,” she said about his campaign. Even though she considered him a successful mayor, the tone of his campaign pushed her to back Lamont.
Leah Marmon, a Republican voter, backed Linda McMahon.
“I think it’s time for some new blood. I want to give her a chance to see what she can do.”
Regardless of who wins Marmon said the winning candidates have to ensure the state gets its fair share from the federal government and invest it in the state’s infrastructure.
“There is a lot of work that needs to be done,” she said citing roads and housing for elderly and low income among the top of the list she said needs to be addressed.
New voter Amy Hansen was thrilled to get a chance to vote. The law was changed to allow voters who will be 18-years-old by the time of the November general election to vote in a party primary in August even though they are 17-years-old.
Some of the staff at her poll at Central Middle School clapped in approval of her turning up to vote.
“For me it’s nice having a voice,” said the registered Republican.