Nov. 2, 2004 – The turnout was brisk Tuesday as St. John voters trekked to the polls to cast ballots for their candidates and to catch up with people they see only at events like this.
"This is wonderful. It's so much fun," St. John resident Anna Dohm said as she worked candidate Craig Barshinger's table outside the Julius E. Sprauve School.
She said she enjoyed the opportunity to see people she hadn't seen in months, if not years.
A few tables away, Sen. Almando "Rocky" Liburd's special assistant, Aubrey Bridgewater, was handing out campaign literature for his boss.
"There's a big turnout so far," Bridgewater said.
At the other end of the island in Coral Bay, Angela Ebner staffed Sen. Louis P. Hill's table across the street from Guy Benjamin School.
"It's fascinating to be here. I've never done this before and you get a different view," she said.
Although the candidates' supporters took up most of the space near the polling places, there was still room for food sales.
Outside Julius Sprauve School, Elaine Cramer was busy selling chicken, beef and salt-fish pate as well as sugar cakes.
Across from Guy Benjamin School, Jane Johannes had just set up her table with pots of kallaloo, bullfoot soup, fish, johnny cakes, whelks and her famous lobster salad.
"I set up every election day," she said.
The John's Folly Learning Institute was on hand with snacks and sodas for sale to raise money for its programs.
Although Coral Bay has only a small fraction of St. John's approximately 1,700 voters, at least one candidate knows they count.
Sen. Shawn-Michael Malone, busy asking for votes in Coral Bay and later in Cruz Bay, said that in the 2002 election, 19 votes gave him the seventh-place position. When the absentee ballots were counted, he was 51 to the good.
"One vote may make a difference," he said.
And he said that although Coral Bay doesn't have that many voters, the area is growing and the residents need representation.
Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg stopped by Julius Sprauve School for a quick late-morning visit.
"I have come to hear and see my constituents," he said, shaking hands as he introduced himself to residents heading inside to vote.
While there were no lines at Guy Benjamin School, poll workers said that by 10:10 a.m. 74 people had voted, a good turnout for this polling place.
At Julius Sprauve School, 300 people had voted by 11 a.m.
"We had people in line at 6:30 a.m. I figure we'll see 800 or 900 people," poll worker Madeline Sewer said, noting that this would be a good showing.
She said it appeared all the attention to the presidential race spilled over to the local election and brought people to the polls.
Pastory resident Joyce Horn said she came out to vote because she's interested in the Virgin Islands' future.
"I think it's great to live here and I want to be part of it," she said, heading for the door at Julius Sprauve School.
Cruz Bay resident Doris Stuckert said she always votes because it's her patriotic duty.
"I don't think one vote makes a difference, but I hope for the best," she said.
Fish Bay resident Chuck Pishko said it's his duty and responsibility to vote.
"Nothing will change if we don't," he said.
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