ON THE SIDE. . .

ON THE SIDE. . .
This and that from the world of Valley politics.
MOCK ELECTION: Call it the curse of Watson Elementary School. Like many elementary schools throughout the country, Watson, in Austintown, where my youngest daughter, Logan, is a second-grader, holds a mock presidential election. Pupils and teachers are permitted to vote. In 2000, Democrat Al Gore beat Republican George W. Bush at Watson. The results were different nationwide -- although in defense of the school, Gore won the popular vote but lost the electoral one. This year, the school went Democratic again, supporting John Kerry, who lost the national election.
What security? Mahoning County spent about $20,000 for security improvements to its board of elections office and voting machines. Among other things, the money went toward building a wall and door with special access cards given to a select few to protect the voting machines. On election night, not only was the front door open but so was the rear door to allow precinct officials to drop off the tallies. It was easier to keep the doors open for access, but it didn't help with security.
And the winner is ... Not to brag, which is exactly what I'm doing, but I won the newspaper's general election wager contest. Staff Reporter Ian Hill, Courthouse Reporter Bob Jackson and I made predictions on six categories. I won the most, and even got the voter turnout percentage in Mahoning exactly correct. I got a winner shirt I proudly display at my desk, while the two others got loser shirts and hang their heads in shame.
skolnick@vindy.com