YSU Elex project | Can GOP snag Medina votes?

Editor’s note: Youngstown State University journalism students in an advanced news reporting class traveled across the state in October to talk with people about the election. Their mission was to find out what issues matter and why. The work is published on vindy.com as part of partnership between the school and the newspaper.

By Jumal Andre Brown

Youngstown State University

MEDINA - Along the roads of Medina County lies open highways, horses, llamas, lakes, and more open road but hidden within the eyes of the meadows lies a semi-thriving community with criss-crossing eyes on both presidential candidates.

In the last two presidential elections, Medina County supported George W. Bush, but some are saying that history may not repeat itself and the county’s 108,000 potential voters could lean Democratic if given the right message.

Scott Mcgurk, an accountant and a registered Republican, said he wasn’t really for either Democrat Barrack Obama or Republican John McCain. In fact, he wasn’t sure he was going to vote at all.

“McCain is a joke, [He] doesn’t know what’s going on,” Mcgurk said.

He smiled, looked up and added, “Barack Obama could probably do better overall and he seems much more intelligent, but you just don’t know.”

Mcgurk is not alone in his quandary over the upcoming presidential election. He and other residents of Medina County have been isolated from much of the economic woes plaguing other parts of Ohio.

For instance, Medina’s median income per household is $59,457.

This relative wealth has allowed the county to build a state-of-the-art recreation facility that has a swimming pool, weight room, basketball courts, tennis courts, and two full-sized football fields.

The signs of prosperity are visible elsewhere as it has attracted businesses such as Starbucks, Home Depot, and its retention of its historic, 130-year-old business, A.I. Root, a candle manufacturer. (Now called Root Candles).

While conventional wisdom sometimes links wealth to Republican voting tendency, several county residents say it is way too early to count their votes.

Another accountant Tatiana Chudnikova, a mother of an infant, said of McCain, “I think he’s too old and I don’t like his personality.”

Although Chudnikova is a registered Republican, she plans to vote for Obama.

She said she was aware that Sarah Palin has five children with one being pregnant, but was disappointed with a specific comment of Palin’s.

“She just doesn’t sit well with me,” Chudnikova said.

She said Paulin had said, “The difference between a soccer mom and a pitbull is lipstick” which left her in a stupor of confusement and disbelief. “I mean, she said that?” said Chudnikova with a smiling frown.

Although Chudnikova is a registered Republican, she plans to vote for Obama.

“I just like him better.”

Rich Ross, a plant manager, said he voted for McCain the first time around but wasn’t sure who he would vote for now.

“McCain’s values are structured in-line with mine and Barrack is a wonderful speaker but his experience is a problem.”

Ross felt that the newness of Sarah Paulin would wear off and that if Obama had chosen Hilary Clinton as his Vice President it would’ve been a shoo-in.

“It would’ve been a landslide.”