Yuma's Dems, GOP party officials agree economy focus of election

Yuma County Republican and Democratic party officials agree there was likely a record number of voters in 2008, driven in good measure by the economy, party officials said.

"The turnout was fantastic, people at the polling places weren't done for an hour and a half," said Joe Melchionne, Yuma County Republican Party chairman. "That's a great thing. That's what this country was founded on - voting."

He added that he was glad so many Yumans got out to vote but at 8:15 p.m. it was way too early to forecast results.

Despite news reports that Arizona was too close to call between McCain and Obama it was unlikely McCain would lose his home state, Melchionne said.

"No matter who wins, the thing to focus on is the economy," he stressed. "The economic outlook will depend on tax policy. If they raise taxes in hard times, it's proven to be a bad move."

At a Democratic Party election night gathering at The Yuma Landing Restaurant, Charlene Fernandez, Yuma County Party chairwoman agreed the election will center around the economy. Fernandez said that most are not better off than four years ago and many local residents are struggling with high gas prices, high health-care costs and high tuition. She said with a current president who has some of the lowest approval ratings ever, that translates into unhappy voters.

"We played it very conservatively, not worrying about a big win or paying attention to the polls," Fernandez said.

Since Labor Day, the Yuma Democratic Party has recruited 200 new volunteers and on the final day of campaigning made 7,100 telephone calls to get out the vote, Fernandez recalled.

She said she expected Obama to be elected and hoped everyone could put partisan politics aside after the election and get back to "basics."

"I think it's a message to voters to start thinking about the middle class," she said. "That's what drives the country. The lost middle class faded into oblivion over the last eight years."

Yuma County voters were also deciding whether to unify elementary and high school districts with this election and Fernandez, a Yuma Union High School District board member, reiterated that she did not oppose unification but she did not support the plan proposed by the state's School District Redistricting Commission.

She said that unification would streamline the education system from kindergarten through 12th grade with consistency of curriculum, especially the transition from eighth to ninth grade.

"What bothers me about it is that it costs a lot of money to make it happen that we don't have," she said. "We've already consolidated a lot of services through the education consortium."

Fernandez added that unification was viable but school board members prefer to devise their own plan and if she is re-elected to the board it will be one of her priorities.

The lines outside several polling places appeared to be the longest in memory, said Philip Townsend, YUHSD board member and John McCain's Yuma County campaign contact person.

"It's probably a near record turnout, and I'm glad people got out to vote," he said. "My daughter voted at the Oasis Church on Avenue B and 16th and had to wait in line for three hours."

Townsend said the one bright patch from a Republican point of view was the Democrats were unlikely to get a 60 seat veto-proof Senate and that would be the only check and balance the Republicans would have if the Democrats controlled the presidency and both chambers of Congress.

At the Democrat's party, Yuma County Assessor Joe Wehrle also said the economy would likely deliver a Democratic victory.

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William Roller can be reached at wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858.