Turnout low in Kannapolis, Cabarrus elections

Tuesday, November 03, 2009 3:46 PM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |

By Emily Ford

eford@salisburypost.com

KANNAPOLIS — Cabarrus County voters are trickling into precincts today, a movement that seems even slower when compared to the 72 percent voter turnout flood last year during the general election.

"I really thought the momentum from 2008 would kind of go over to this year," Cabarrus County Board of Elections Director Linda Grist said. "It didn't."

Grist predicted single-digit turnout for today's municipal elections.

In 2007, turnout was 10 percent in Kannapolis and 11 percent in Concord.

"I would imagine those would go down a little," Grist said.

In Kannapolis, voters will elect a mayor and three city council members. Each race has one challenger.

Bill Georgiou, who is running against Mayor Bob Misenheimer, was making phone calls from a database and knocking on doors this afternoon.

"Win or lose, it's been very successful," Georgiou said.

City Council incumbent Darrell Hinnant also tried to reach voters today at various polling places.

"It's slow, not many people are out," he said. "There are not many people to catch."

Challenger Michael Mishkin is running against incumbents Hinnant, Randy Cauthen and Gene McCombs for city council.

In the past, candidates have rented the Kannapolis train station to hear election returns, but no one has reserved the station tonight.

Polls close at 7:30 p.m. There are also municipal elections in Concord, Harrisburg, Midland and Mount Pleasant.