Early voting began with a bang Wednesday as more than 1,200 people showed up at the Brainerd Recreation Center, the closest precinct to East Ridge.
All seven candidates running for the two open seats on the East Ridge City Council were represented at the precinct with campaign workers _ and in many cases candidates themselves _ waving signs and lounging under tents.
Brian Williams said that Wednesday’s turnout was huge.
“See that parking lot over there,” Williams said pointing to a grass field adjacent to the parking lot. “It was full.”
Jim Bethune, Matthew DeGlopper, Esther Helton, Doris Rogers, Gregg Shipley, Robert Stahl and Brian Williams are seeking two council positions being vacated by Councilman Denny Manning and Vice Mayor Marc Gravitt.
Early voting extends through Nov. 3, officials said. Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
For many of the candidates this is their first time running for elective office.
When asked if he had ever ran for any office of any type, Shipley said that he was the President of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes when he was an eighth-grader at East Ridge Junior High School.
“Esther (Helton) and I went in to early vote (Thursday),” Shipley said. “I looked down on the ballot and saw my name. That was cool.
“Early voting is different,” he added. “It’s a lot of fun.”
Some old hands were having a good time on Thursday. Bethune, who served on the City Council from 2010-14, before losing a bid for Mayor, said the candidates are sharing the camaraderie of working the early voting precinct.
“Even though we don’t have a lottery, nobody is arguing,” Bethune said jokingly in reference to a newly-instituted tent lottery in front of City Hall on Election Day. “It’s good. There’s been a lot of people. Both days have been real strong.”
Kenneth Rogers, husband of Doris Rogers, was all smiles sitting in a chair under a tent with campaign signs urging voters to check the box for his wife.
“We get a lot of thumbs up,” Kenneth Rogers said. “We don’t know if they’re lying, though,” he said jokingly. “We are just having fun.”
Helton was busy working her cell phone, presumably calling voters and urging them to vote for her in the election. Her adult daughter, Lisa Lewis, was sporting a white T-shirt with “Esther Helton for City Council” emblazoned on the front.
“Lisa, are you waiving that sign” Esther said as she looked up from her phone as cars passed by.
“Mom, I’ve got a shirt on with your name on it” Lisa responded. “I don’t want to waive a sign, too, and get them confused.”
DeGlopper sat under his newly purchased tent with a big campaign sign in front of him held down with re-bar. He said there had been some difficulties, as his tent was blown over on Wednesday afternoon. He said that he got help from some of the other candidates in putting the thing back right.
“Candidates are really supporting each other,” he said. “We all want the same thing; the betterment of East Ridge.”
