Politics & Government
Voter Turnout Low at Mason Park Polling Place in Chatsworth
Taxation of medical marijuana, and public library funding, along with other measures attract only 8 percent of Chatsworth's eligible voters.
Baseball, soccer and playground equipment attracted more people to Mason Park in Chatsworth Tuesday afternoon than the Primary Election featuring an open City Council seat and 10 propositions and charter amendments.
Children and adults took to the grassy fields, while a disappointing show of voters stepped into the voting booths.
By 4:30 p.m., 80 out of 1,032 registered voters, including 276 absentee voters, turned out. Election volunteers said four of the 80 were younger than 30 years old. They also said Tuesday’s turnout is better than the February election when just 75 voters came out, but not as good as the gubernatorial race in November when about 300 to 350 voters cast their ballots.
Find out what's happening in Northridge-Chatsworthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“Eighty people is deplorable when they send you 800 ballots,” said Pauline Wolf, the head volunteer at the polling place. “Voter turnout is not very good. We have people demonstrating (over the world). People here take things for granted and don’t come out to vote. They are wrapped up in their own lives and don’t take their freedom seriously, but they complain about things happening downtown in City Hall.”
Low voter turnout was also reported throughout the San Fernando Valley.
Find out what's happening in Northridge-Chatsworthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Seven out of 15 City Council seats were up for grabs in the even-numbered districts including District 12, which includes Chatsworth.
The candidates in City Council District 12, in the order they appeared on the ballot, are Dinesh "Danny" Lakhanpal, a businessman; Kelly M. Lord, Jr., a small business owner; Brad Smith, a neighborhood council board member; Navrai "Singh" Singh, a businessman and restaurant owner; Armineh Chelebian, a neighborhood council board member; Mitch Englander, a policeman and councilman deputy.
If no single candidate wins a majority of the vote, a runoff election is set for May 17.
Seats on the Los Angeles Unified School District and Community College boards were also up for grabs on Tuesday’s ballots.
Among the 10 initiatives on Tuesday’s ballot, Proposition M – Taxation of Medical Marijuana Collectives -- brought out Mitchell Krause of Chatsworth.
Krause, a medical marijuana user suffering with insomnia, said he voted against Proposition M.
“It’s exorbitant – the 5 percent tax. From what I understand, that is 10 times more than taxes for other goods,” Krause said. “Because it’s for medical reasons it shouldn’t be taxed.”
The Charter Amendment L, known as the library funding amendment, brought out the Lowes of Chatsworth.
“We are pro library,” said Ellen Lowe. “A vote does count. It may appear not to, and one gets frustrated, but a vote does count.”
Her daughter, Susan Lowe, said she wants a better world for her daughter, Briana King.
“If you don’t vote you can’t complain. My vote represents what I feel,” the conservative Chatsworth resident said.
Other Chatsworth voters said they were there because it was their civic duty.
“I vote all of the time. This is my right,” said Jackie Gee.
Her husband, James Gee, add, “I’m a good civic citizen.”
