Election Day 2006

Welcome to Independent.com‘s online election coverage for Tuesday,
November 7. Throughout this evening, until about 10 p.m. or when
the webmaster passes out, The Indy‘s reporters and editors
will be sending in updates over the Internet and cell phone
regarding the numerous races and their related parties. Once the
clock hits 8 p.m., make sure to link to the county elections office
to get the live updates on the election results. To do so, go to
www.sbcvote.com.

Until then, all we’ve got to report is that the turnout around
Santa Barbara has been happily high. Poll workers have reported
steady streams of voters all day long and, at about 6:15 p.m.,
there was a line out the door of the First United Methodist Church
on the corner of Garden and Anapamu. One recent voter on his way
out quipped, “I got writer’s cramp in there!” in reference to the
large number of items on this November’s ballot.

The large number of voters today is quite a reversal of the
dismal June turnouts. It’s no doubt tied to the importance that
this election has on a national scale as the Democrats make their
first real challenge during the Bush administration to take over
Congress. Early reports show that the Republicans are losing. One
example is the conservative leaning Ohio River Valley, where,
according to Forbes.com, the Democrats booted four Republican reps
from their seats, with a fifth likely to lose as well. The
Democrats need to pick up 15 seats to wrangle control away from the
Republicans in the House and six seats to take control of the
Senate. But enough about the rest of the country — doesn’t the
world revolve around Santa Barbara County?

So what can you expect on this website tonight? As usual,
there’ll be some coverage from the county’s elections office,
located at the southwest corner of the courthouse. The scene there
consists of politicos, aides, media types, gadflies, and various
other hangers-on. It’s been both bustling and dead over the years,
but this year we’re expecting quite a crowd, with so much on the
line.

Otherwise, here’s a rundown of where reporters from The
Indy will be this evening:

Ethan Stewart will be at the Endless Summer, where Doctor Dan
Secord is holding court. Secord’s challenger for the 2nd District
is Janet Wolf, and Stewart will be checking her party at SOhO on
State Street. SOhO is also the hoedown hotspot for Lois Capps (a
shoo-in), Measure D, Pedro Nava, and school board candidates Kate
Parker and Suzy Cawthon.

Nick Welsh is planning (at least at the time of this posting) to
head down to Carpinteria to find the house of Carp city council
candidate Al Clark. If Welsh finds the place, he’ll be in the
company of two other Carp candidates: the current mayor Brad Stein
and Gregg Carty. No word on where Greg Gandrud and Ron Hurd, the
other two vying for the three seats open, will be tonight.

Martha Sadler and photo partner Shannon Kelley “Gonzo” Gould
will be reporting from the Good Land, where six candidates are
vying for three seats. She’ll be calling in with updates from
Pascucci (where Goleta City Council incumbents Cynthia Brock, Jack
Hawxhurst, and Margaret Connell are hanging out) and Zodos (where
Michael Bennett and Eric Onnen will be stationed). And lastly,
Roger Aceves, the sixth candidate, will be at Luigis.

And of course there’s Paul Wellman, our photographer who will be
basically everywhere.

That about does it for now, so check in again soon for another
Indy update.