“This is the first election I’ve had to think about,” said 28-year-old Maria Carrillo High School math teacher Patrick Kehan. “Last night I was 50-50 on Barack and Hillary.”
At 7:18 a.m. he had cast his ballot for Obama, saying he felt the Illinois senator would “be a good leader.”
Annette Hayashi spent Monday night also debating between Obama and Clinton.
But her early morning vote was ultimately for Clinton.
“She’s fresh. I like her way. I want a woman president,” Hayashi said.
On this frosty election day these voters stopped at the Santa Rosa Christian Church on Pacific Avenue to cast their ballots before heading to work.
Sonoma County election officials are expecting a possible record turnout for today’s primary.
California is one of 24 contests Tuesday weighing in on the presidential race.
Also arriving at the church early Tuesday was Coral Becker. “I wanted to stay green and make a point. I voted for Ralph Nader,” she said.
Piner-Olivet charter school teacher Kathryn Pither likes to talk to her junior high history students about the elections. She wanted to vote before school Tuesday to provide an example and show her students her “I voted” sticker.
Pither said she also struggled with her vote.
“It took me a long time to come to Obama. I like him but I would be happy with either one,” she said, referring to Clinton.
Pither was in high school when John F. Kennedy was elected president.
“This is that kind of election,” she said.
