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PITTSBURG —
Pittsburg area voters turned out in (near record?) numbers for the 2010 mid-term elections. Ranking high on the minds of novice and experienced voters alike were a broad range of national and local issues.
The question of how to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure looms large, and while voters across the country are gearing up to voice their disapproval of increased government spending, many Pittsburg residents appear ready to chip in to the city’s coffers to help improve the city’s roads. But voters turned out to cast their votes on myriad other issues as well.
Pittsburg resident Melissa McKinney said she voted for the road tax. But another issue — retaining the ability to protect her family and her home — was a top priority for McKinney.
“I wanted to vote to keep my right to keep and bear arms,” McKinney said. “It’s the person behind the gun. I’ve got one in case someone tries to harm me or my kids.”
Longtime Pittsburg resident Fred Schiefelbein said it was time for residents to pay for improving infrastructure such as roads and water lines, rather than cosmetic improvements.
“We’ve made a mess of this city,” Schiefelbein said. “We’ve got new fire stations and a new police station ... we’ve let the streets fall apart but nobody seems to want to do anything about it.”
As voters piled out of polling places, proudly displaying their voter stickers, many stopped to voice their concerns.
Here’s what a few of them had to say about why they voted:
Pittsburg area voters turned out in (near record?) numbers for the 2010 mid-term elections. Ranking high on the minds of novice and experienced voters alike were a broad range of national and local issues.
The question of how to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure looms large, and while voters across the country are gearing up to voice their disapproval of increased government spending, many Pittsburg residents appear ready to chip in to the city’s coffers to help improve the city’s roads. But voters turned out to cast their votes on myriad other issues as well.
Pittsburg resident Melissa McKinney said she voted for the road tax. But another issue — retaining the ability to protect her family and her home — was a top priority for McKinney.
“I wanted to vote to keep my right to keep and bear arms,” McKinney said. “It’s the person behind the gun. I’ve got one in case someone tries to harm me or my kids.”
Longtime Pittsburg resident Fred Schiefelbein said it was time for residents to pay for improving infrastructure such as roads and water lines, rather than cosmetic improvements.
“We’ve made a mess of this city,” Schiefelbein said. “We’ve got new fire stations and a new police station ... we’ve let the streets fall apart but nobody seems to want to do anything about it.”
As voters piled out of polling places, proudly displaying their voter stickers, many stopped to voice their concerns.
Here’s what a few of them had to say about why they voted:
