Although voter turnout in the Santa Clarita Valley is traditionally low for local-only issues, and Tuesday’s turnout appeared to follow that pattern, those who did show up at the polls said they take their role in the political process seriously.

“When I was a kid, everyone looked out for each others’ kids,” said George Thomas, 67, the lone voter at the Hyatt Regency Valencia at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

“This is my way of looking out for others’ kids. Nothing is more important than the kids,” said Thomas, noting that he keeps up with education issues although his kids and grandkids are grown.

“There’s no such thing as a small election,” he said. “Every election is important.”

Anna Meyer, a polling official at the Hyatt, said about 30 voters had turned out by 6 p.m.

Based on the turnout so far, she said, it would be the smallest election she had witnessed in the four she’s worked.

“We’re hoping to break 40,” Meyer said, standing at a table inside a nearly empty hotel conference room.

Voters began to steadily flow into Grace Baptist Church’s polling place shortly after 5 p.m.

“It’s been a light turnout, but a lot of people voted by mail,” said Marilyn Holley, poll reservist.

Valencia resident Jonathan Merilo, 19, stopped at Grace Baptist to cast votes for COC’s board and William S. Hart Union School District’s board.

Merilo’s top concerns were school funding in the midst of budget cuts, and supporting the arts.

“I know (Hart candidate) Paul Strickland supports the arts because I was in a play with him,” said Merilo, a student at COC and Bowman High School.

Westside issue draws big
Meanwhile, on the westside, the advisory vote asking residents what form of government they would prefer became a draw to the polls.

More than 150 voters had traveled through one Stevenson Ranch poll at a fire station by 7 p.m. Tuesday.

“We’ve had a much larger turnout than imagined,” said Mark Zema, a poll clerk at Los Angeles County Fire Station 124. “The big issue is that advisory vote on our ballot.”

Voters from westside unincorporated communities were asked to voice their preference for governing the communities of Stevenson Ranch, Tesoro Del Valle, Val Verde, Castaic, Sunset Pointe, Southern Oaks and Westridge.

In a non-binding, advisory vote, residents were given the choice to decide whether to incorporate, remain in the county or annex to Santa Clarita.

“People have said that’s the only thing they’re interested in – the ones that talk to us,” Zema said. “This vote is just advisory; it’s nothing binding but I think people have strong feelings about it.”

One such voter was Bobbie Brophy of Westridge.

“I did want to vote because of the advisory (issue),” Brophy said. “Also, I’m interested in the school part because I’m an educator at COC.”

Brophy recently moved from inside the city of Santa Clarita boundaries to Westridge.

“I don’t want us to become our own city,” she said. “I actually wouldn’t mind being part of the city (of Santa Clarita).”