Editor’s Notebook: Grab this election by the horns

At a retirement party for a longtime Scotts Valley teacher, I bumped into Tricia Webber, who works for the county elections department coordinating and training all the polling place staff for Election Day.
We were having a nice conversation until I mentioned this year’s election cycle and the fact that the gubernatorial primary is June 8, followed swiftly by a June 22 special primary.
The special primary was ordered last month by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to fill Abel Maldenado’s seat in the 15th State Senate District after he was appointed lieutenant governor by Schwarzenegger.
Webber said it’s been a nightmare trying to find and coordinate poll workers for elections that are so close together. So, carried by the emotion of the moment — pity combined with a sense of duty relating to democracy — I volunteered to become a poll worker for the June 8 election.
I am excited for that day, and I recommend that others join the elections crew, too. I worked as a poll worker two years ago for the presidential primary election, and I heartily vouch for the experience.
Even though I had to take a day off work and get up before 6 a.m. to start the job, it was worthwhile. Besides meeting a friendly bunch of poll workers, I got to say hi to friends and acquaintances who were casting their ballots. I became part of the democratic process and became aware of how closely guarded each individual ballot is as soon as someone casts a vote.
I was tired and satisfied at the end of the day, and from my perspective, the election had been a success.
To work at the polls, you will have to attend a single training session. If you complete your job on Election Day, a check for $75 or $100 will show up in your mailbox.
Call Tricia at 454-2409 and join the democratic process on Election Day by working at the polls.
Editor Peter Burke has voted in every Santa Cruz County election since he was able to. Contact him at

pe***@pr*********.com











or 438-2500.