Politics separates votes for governor at the polls in Fresno, the Valley

Voters in the central San Joaquin Valley came out for the governor's race Tuesday, with Democrats and Republicans saying they were voting largely along party lines.

"I don't agree with all the liberal Democratic things going on in California," Margaret Gallistil said of casting her vote for Republican candidate John Cox.

Cox is conservative and so is she, Gallistil, 62, of Fresno, said. She agrees with Cox's stand against sanctuary cities and the border wall.

In Clovis, voter Ken Roach, 68, voted to get rid of Democrats. "They've ruined California," the retired plumber said.

Democrat Bob Lambert, 62, of Fresno, voiced scorn for Republican candidates. He voted along party lines. "Anything to stop Trump," the small business owner said. Gavin Newsom got his vote for governor, Lambert said. "I'm not a huge fan, but he's probably the lesser of all evils."

Other voters said they want a governor who will represent all Californians.

Linda and Doug Whisenant of Fresno, small business owners and registered Republicans, said California needs new leadership. Republican Travis Allen of Huntington Beach got their vote. "He wants California to be a better place for all people," Linda Whisenant, 56, said.

LeeEsther Turner, 50, a registered Democrat, said she voted for John Chiang, a Democrat and current state treasurer. She looked for a candidate who "stood up for the people," she said. A prison guard, Turner also said: "I need to make sure I elect a governor that is for law enforcement."

Voters also cast ballots in the high-profile primary race for California's 22nd District, held now by Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Tulare.

Jeanne Watkins of Clovis said Nunes has her support. "I think we need someone looking out for the ag (industry)," she said. "I'm for less regulations and I believe he supports that in most cases."

Watkins said Nunes' staunch support for President Trump has not harmed him. "Republicans will probably vote for him and Democrats won't vote for him anyway," she said. Watkins said she has driven past protesters in Clovis who are supporters of Andrew Janz, considered the front-runner Democrat against Nunes. "It just makes me so mad," she said.

On Tuesday, Janz supporters held signs at Clovis Avenue in front of Nunes' office in the Sentinel building. Dave Derby said it was just another Tuesday for the "Every Tuesday Vigil" group which has held weekly demonstrations outside Nunes' office since February 2017. On election day, Derby said, "I think we've made an impact here."

Small glitches

There were no major problems reported with voting Tuesday, but voters who showed up at 7 a.m. at one northeast Fresno precinct did not have ballots. Elizabeth Fox, 36, said there was a line of voters waiting outside Bethany Church on North Maple Avenue at 6:45 a.m., but when the doors opened at 7 a.m. there were no ballots for voters in Precinct 200. "The poll inspector did not show up this morning," she said.

Fox said after some confusion, voters were given the option of voting by provisional ballot or using the electronic voting machine at the precinct. Fox said the machine to vote electronically was not working and several voters left without casting votes: "I saw at least five people walk away."

Fresno County Registrar of Voters Brandi Orth said the problem was fixed before 9:30 a.m. And she had a reminder for any voter: Officials will do all they can to make sure everyone who's registered has a chance to vote. Would-be voters, like those Tuesday in Precinct 200, should contact their county election office for help. "We will make sure to get a ballot to them," Orth said.

Fox, who called the Fresno County Registrar of Voters office to report the problem in Precinct 200, said she would return to vote later. "I have been a voter since I was 18 and I have no plans to stop any time in the near future."

Tuesday afternoon, Fox said she had returned to the precinct and voted.

This story was originally published June 5, 2018 at 9:49 AM with the headline "Politics separates votes for governor at the polls in Fresno, the Valley."