Locals struggle with vote

STAFF WRITER

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The theme among Roosevelt County voters in Tuesday’s general election seemed to echo the rest of the nation as voters conveyed an inner struggle but a deep conviction in regard to voting in the presidential election.

Staff photo: Kurt Munz-Raper

Voters line up inside the Memorial Building Tuesday to receive their voting ballots for the 2016 the general election. Roosevelt County voters for any of the presidential candidates expressed choosing what they believed was the “lesser of two evils.”

Republican candidate Donald Trump claimed the title of the nation’s president late Tuesday night with 279 electoral votes while Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton claimed 228.

Larry Smith, president of the Roosevelt County Republican Party, said he was happy the Republican Party claimed victory for the presidency and in Congress.

He said he is also optimistic for changes in both foreign and economic policy with the hopes educational policy will be controlled by the state and local districts.

“Having a president and both houses in Congress, we might be able to get things done. It’s hard to get things done by the government, but it’s our position in the Republican party that a lot needs to be changed,” said Smith. “The next step for the president, very clearly, is to gather the appropriate people around him, and he seems to have a good leg up on that.”

Dolores Penrod, secretary for the Roosevelt County Democratic Party, said she hopes Americans will show unity after the election.

“All the Americans are going to struggle through this, and I hope they will be kind to each other, and I hope they will live together in a fact-based world,” said Penrod.

Resident Doyle Onstott said he voted for Trump on Tuesday, because he felt he represented change.

“We need to make our economy better,” said Onstott. “We need to make our health care better, and our military and our borders and on and on and on.”

Onstott said Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton’s email scandal and “corruption in the White House with the Democrats” also motivated his decision.

“I definitely believe, like Trump says, it’s a rigged system until they prove otherwise,” said Onstott.

Resident Davina Jaynes said she voted for Clinton, because the candidate best represented her morals.

“I voted for Hillary, because she’s the only candidate that didn’t scare me thinking of going into the White House,” said Jaynes.

Resident Benjamin Sickles said he disagreed with both major party candidates, but local elections are still important to consider.

“Generally, I vote Democratic and whenever possible, I voted for a Democrat except for president,” said Sickles. Instead, he voted for Better for America Party Candidate Evan McMullin.

“He stands for values that I can get behind. He doesn’t just talk about them; he lives them,” Sickles said. “He is a lawyer, and he does know the system. He’s not a Washington insider and he doesn’t have to sell out to get on the ballot. In fact, he had a struggle trying to get on the ballot. I realize he’s probably not going to win, but I feel he’s someone I can vote in good conscious for.”

Portales High School Senior Zoe Rodriguez voted for Libertarian Party Candidate Gary Johnson during her first time voting.

“I like his views on everything,” said Rodriguez, adding she consulted with her friends to help her come to her decision.

Other voters said they were reluctant to vote for either major party candidate but ultimately chose what they felt was the “lesser of two evils.”

“I voted for Trump because anyone but Hillary (Clinton),” said Portales Resident Wesley Barnes.

His wife, Jeanne Barnes, also cast her ballot for Trump to prevent Clinton from winning but added that she was not crazy about either candidate.

“One belongs in an insane asylum, and the other belongs in an orange jumpsuit,” said Jeanne Barnes.

Resident Patricia Pino, an American-Indian, said the lack of response from both candidates about the Dakota Access Pipeline and the lack of support for the Standing Rock Sioux tribe made the decision a difficult one.

“Not one candidate spoke to my issues,” said Pino. “He’s (Trump) just really anti-minority. He’s so rash and comes across as very unwilling to work with people. At least with Hillary, she’s done that. With her, it will be a struggle but maybe we can get an ear. With Trump, he will take more Indian land and probably not support our treaty rights.”