The road to ‘Restore ORR’ ended on July 10 after the special election Proposition 2 ½ override ballot question was defeated by a significant margin – 575 in favor, 689 against.
The polling station at the Rochester Senior Center fell silent moments after Town Clerk Naida Parker read the results aloud promptly at 8:00 pm when polls closed, a reaction that was a stark contrast to the celebratory aftermath of three successful town meetings and two subsequent annual town elections that marked five wins for the $2 million ORR athletic field, track, and auditorium renovation project.
This special election vote was the final hurdle the project had to overcome, and after hours of lining Dexter Lane with “Vote ‘Yes’ to Restore ORR” signs and waving cheerfully at passing vehicles, the volunteers and restore ORR supporters’ hopes were dashed in a matter of seconds.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” said Parker as the crowd processed the news. “I think everybody was surprised,” she added as supporters silently filed out of the room. After the project supporters left, Parker said, “I didn’t see that coming.”
Voter turnout for the special election was just a tad below 30 percent.
By Jean Perry
“Waving cheerfully” is not completely accurate. Yes, a lot of the ORR restoration project supporters were waving. Somewhat cheerfully. But there was a distinct proportion that engaged in an intimidating stare-down contest if you refused to wave back — deliberate intimidation if you don’t get on board and toe the party line. And this problem seems to be getting worse with every election, local or national. It’s getting to the point where it’s like running a gauntlet just to vote. I know it’s legal. But it shouldn’t be. Campaign as hard as you want and make as much noise as you want in the weeks and days running up to an election. Ring my doorbell. But on election day, keep silent. Other countries have this rule. To flood polling stations with partisans on election day is deliberate intimidation, and those partisans know it.