With Baltimore precincts reporting lower than expected turnout during a day of intermittent rain, many voters in the city?s primary who straggled to the polls expressed preference for the status quo.
“I didn?t vote for a single issue, I voted for who I thought would do a decent job,” said Laidily MaCabe, a resident of Homewood. “I voted for [Mayor Sheila] Dixon.”
The city has 333,700 active registered voters, but by 1 p.m. only 32,000 residents had cast votes ? leaving some precincts practically deserted.
A fire station on Greenmount Avenue just below 33rd Street had just 50 voters by 11:30 a.m. At St. Leo?s Church in Little Italy, voters were nowhere to be seen, and an election volunteer said only 70 votes were cast by mid-morning.
“People have said this is the lowest they?ve ever seen it,” said Peter Dolkart, a campaign worker for City Councilman Bill Henry in the 4th District.
Some voters described Dixon as “the safe choice,” or said they wanted to give the interim mayor an opportunity to prove herself during a full term. Many women said they selected Dixon to simply support their gender.
“I voted for women across the board,” said Yvette Christian, 50, standing outside Guilford Elementary School. “It?s time for women to be in charge.”
But other voters worried about crime and looking for change picked top challenger Keiffer Mitchell Jr., a city councilman in the 11th District.
“We need more police officers and we need to give them more support,” said Luanna North, 61, a nurse standing outside a Hampden precinct. “That?s why I voted for Mitchell.” Her husband, Austin North, a retired plumber, agreed.
“Mitchell will be the best to fix crime,” he said.
Many other voters said they remained undecided heading into the voting booths. Skip Sullivan, a resident of Irvington in southwest for 80 years, voted for Mitchell, but encouraged his wife, Edith, to vote for Dixon.
“I like both so I had her vote for one, and I voted for the other,” Skip said. “But I think he?s got potential.”
