Although there was a lot of talk about how the state issues were going to bring out voters this year, a non-presidential year, the turnout figures in Brookfield Township in the Nov. 7 election did not break any records.
Forty-seven percent of voters in Brookfield and Yankee Lake cast ballots, according to the Trumbull County Board of Elections, which is down eight percentage points from the November 2022 election.
However, it can’t be said that the questions about abortion rights and recreational marijuana had no impact on turnout.
“I came mostly for Issue 1,” Bill Hoyt, 44, said after voting at Brookfield schools. “I voted for Issue 1. I don’t think any person’s a fan of abortion, in general, but I do think it’s a person’s right to choose what to do with their body.”
A woman who asked not to be identified said she didn’t follow the other races and issues on the ballot.
“I really came for women’s rights,” she said. “I came more for the issues.”
Debbie Trinckes, 66, said she votes regularly but Issue 1 was her “main reason” for voting this time. She voted against it.
“I consider it (abortion) murder and it’s just an atrocity and there are gray areas, I understand that, but when they want to abort a baby that’s viable and they kill it, I can’t live with that,” Trinckes said.
What follows are other voter comments on two key issues that were on the ballot.
Township trustee
To Tom Webber, Shannon Devitz stood out because she’s already been on the job.
“I’ve heard about her,” said Webber, 67. “She’s doing a good job. I know a couple of the township employees, and they said that they liked her.”
“If it’s working, stay with it,” Webber added. “That’s how I feel about it.”
Devitz’s gender played a big role with some voters.
“I made a decision on it being a woman,” said a man who did not want to be identified.
“I mean, that’s most of your vote – you don’t know who you’re voting for, really,” the man said.
“I think women should be more leaders,” an unidentified woman said. “Women are more leaderable.”
Gladis certainly had his supporters.
“He was a police chief years ago and he’s kind of been in Brookfield a long time and I know that name,” Priscilla English, 69, said of why she voted for Gladis.
A man who asked not to be identified said he voted for Gladis because he has family members who supported the former chief.
Annette Hutchinson, 61, said she based her vote on each candidate’s published comments.
“I compared what both of them said, and that’s why I voted for him (Gladis),” she said.
“I know the family,” Carl Torma, 81, said of why he voted for Gladis.
School levy
Money was on the minds of many voters who voted against the school levy.
“It’s just, sometimes, when you’re on a fixed income, they keep asking for money, it’s kind of hard,” English said.
“Just because, financially, I don’t think people have the extra money to pay,” said a man who asked not to be identified.
Hutchinson said she voted against it because “I don’t have kids in school anymore.”
Bill Rumple, 73, said his no vote reflected his belief that education from kindergarten through college is a “debacle.”
“I’m not too enthused about how schools do their job, even though I really don’t know that much about Brookfield,” he said.
Hoyt gave the levy a thumbs up.
“I think it’s important,” he said. “The schools are underfunded and a lot of the teachers are underpaid and overworked, so I thought it’d be important to help get funding for education.”
“The kids need an education,” Webber said. “I’m all for a good education.”
Trinckes said she voted for the levy to support her grandchildren.
“You gotta have good schools – it’s as simple as that,” Torma said.
“I feel that a good school system is important for our community, and we gotta keep up the schools,” said Jane Gainard, 64. “The kids are important.”
