Can voter turnout beat expectations?
If past Aprils are any indication, fewer than 15 percent of voters will turn out for today’s municipal elections. Supervisor of Elections Kurt Browning said city races typically draw 12 to 15 percent of registered voters. In the five cities holding elections today, 22,370 people are registered. “It depends on how hotly contested the races are and the issues on the ballot,” Browning said. Weather forecasts calling for a 70 percent chance for rain today also might keep numbers down. “Obviously, if it rains that will keep people away,” Browning said. “That’s a sad commentary, but it does.” In Zephyrhills, two City Council seats and the mayor’s job are on the ballot. Rj Morgan is challenging incumbent Liz Geiger for Seat 2, and Gina King will try to unseat Lance Smith in Seat 4. Mayor Cliff McDuffie is seeking a second term. He faces a challenge from Louis Colandria. With just one race on the ballot last year, only 7 percent of registered voters went to the polls. But Zephyrhills City Cler
