By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Some people take voting very seriously. Others, not so much.
Some apparently see it as an opportunity to show their creative side.
In the primary election earlier this month, Wood County residents voting on the Democratic ballot were given the chance to fill in a write-in candidate for sheriff.
Retired deputy Ruth Babel-Smith was running as a write-in candidate, but many voters were thinking way outside the box.
Some voters at least stuck with people with law enforcement experience – however questionable it might be. Getting one vote each were Barney Fife, the bumbling deputy from Mayberry RFD; Chief Wiggum, the lazy incompetent police chief in The Simpsons, and Roscoe P. Coltrane, the corrupt sheriff from the Dukes of Hazzard.
“I was just disappointed Boss Hogg didn’t get it,” said Mike Zickar, of the Wood County Board of Elections.
A few cartoon type characters garnered single votes like Alfred E. Newman, of Mad magazine covers; Fred Flintstone, of the prehistoric town of Bedrock; and Scooby Doo, the canine with the mystery solving gang of meddling kids.
Mickey Mouse got 4 votes – 5 if you count the voter who just wrote “Mickey.” Garnering one vote was Disney’s Sheriff Callie, an animated cat who rides a blue pony enforcing the “Cowpoke Code” in the Old West.
Some voters went big, writing national political figures like Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden.
Some preferred to stay local, casting votes for Chip Myles, of Myles Pizza; Daniel Gordon, a Bowling Green councilman; and Jim Weinandy, a local attorney.
A few voters put their confidence in celebrity figures who had proven their power on stage or screen, such as Professor Snape, from Harry Potter’s Hogwarts; Jean-Luc Picard, captain on Star Trek: The Next Generation; and shock rocker Alice Cooper.
Some write-ins had pizzazz, but seemed to lack any political seriousness, like Hypnotoad, the large toad with oscillating eyes and a droning hum from Futurama; Vermin Supreme, a presidential candidate who wears a wizard hat and long beard, and promises free ponies; and Deez Nutz, a satirical presidential candidate. By the way, Mr. Supreme and Mr. Nuts got two write-in votes each.
Some voters preferred the more literate types, writing down George Orwell, author of Animal Farm; Hunter Thompson, of gonzo-journalism fame; and Rosa Clemente, community organizer and hip hop activist.
A handful of voters revisited the past, writing down Ross Perot, former sheriff John Kohl, and former sheriff candidate Mark Hummer.
A few citizens were noncommittal, just writing “Anyone Else,” “No Ass Hole,” “Nobody” and “Someone who isn’t racist.”
Some voters did write in Ruth Babel-Smith’s name, and many came close to it. The variations included Barbara Baden-Smith, Ruth Ann Baker, Julie J. Babel Smith, Ruth Bayless, Ruth Bobel, Ruth Smith and Ruth Smith-Something.
Zickar said traditionally the board of elections is generous with awarding write-in votes, as long as the spelling is close to accurate.
“We’ve always had a pretty liberal interpretation,” he said.
The Republican candidate for sheriff is lucky he didn’t have to rely on write-in votes, since his last name is Wasylyshyn. Most who wrote his name on the Democratic ballot really butchered it, spelling it Vosalitipn, Wasalong, Wasilishin, Vishlimn, Waskyu and Wassm, to list a few.
