Voters at Neelsville Middle School in Germantown arrived "here and there in trickles," said election chief Sariah Jones.

"I'm not really surprised because there was early voting and a lot of people turned out for that," she said late Tuesday afternoon.

Voters in Gaithersburg and Germantown said the biggest issues for them this year were education, jobs and the economy. Transportation and support for the region's biotech industry were also important, they said.

"Everything right now for me has to do with restimulation and regrowth" of the economy, said Andrew Kelley, 41, of Germantown.

Montgomery County has been relatively well-insulated from the economic downturn but unemployment is still a problem, he said. "It's still suffered a great deal and there are still folks on the professional line trying to keep their jobs."

"Jobs is the number one thing," Hossein Marandy, 50, of Germantown said after casting his vote. "I'm lucky enough to have a job but there needs to be more opportunities for other people."

Katie Howard, 30, of Germantown said she most closely followed the school board race and that she cast her ballot for candidates that supported arts and physical education programs as well as a curriculum that is well balanced with after-school activities.

Arthur Butler of Germantown, a father of two and president of Neelsville's PTA, also said schools were his highest priority.

"The biggest issue for me is education," said Butler, 46. "School funding, being able to have the supplies they need to move forward."

Tough races

"I really had to do my research ahead of time," Katie Howard said, her 3-year-old daughter Hannah at her side. "This is the first time I can remember being fliered with so many phone calls and everything."

Gary McGarrity of Gaithersburg agreed.

"It was a real good, strong, competitive race and some of these (choices) were hard," he said.

The District 17 state senate battle between Democrats Jennie Forehand and Cheryl Kagan was especially difficult, said McGarrity, 68, who ultimately voted for Kagan.

"They're both strong candidates and they both have strong records so that was the hardest one for me to decide," he said.

Monica Richardson of Gaithersburg also said the choice was tough but that she went with Forehand.

"It's like when two sides argue a case and you think after the first side goes, wow, that was great, and then the other side is great too," said Richardson, 50. "Everybody has a valuable perspective and you just do the best you can to anticipate who will be the most competent and accomplishment."

Arthur Butler of Germantown said he decided to cast his Democratic primary ballot for Saqib Ali for the District 39 state senate seat and Craig Rice for the County Council's District 2 after having the chance to learn about their positions in person.

"I liked his campaign," Butler, 46, said of Rice. "I heard from him personally and I just felt that the other candidates, they sent information, but he was out there."

Andrew Kelley of Germantown said he liked what Ali had to offer.

"He seems to be an advocate for small businesses and education," said Kelley, 41.

"There's a lot of fresh ideas out there and that's why I voted for Ali," he said. "He's got a lot of ideas and he's a family man."

Voters in Gaithersburg, Montgomery Village cast ballots despite few contested races

At Watkins Mill High School, electioneers spent more time talking to each other than to voters Tuesday afternoon.

Fourteen candidates or their representatives clustered the sidewalk passing out literature to voters.

By 6 p.m., 453 votes had been cast at the school, said Randy Culpepper, chief election judge at the polling site.

Gene Ritz, a campaign volunteer for Republican House of Delegates candidate Jim Pettit, stood outside offering information on early voting for the general election. Pettit was one of three Republicans in the District 39 race running for three spots on the Nov. 2 ballot.

"Jim felt it was important that he get his name out as people exit. We didn't approach anyone as they went in, because, well, there was no need to," Ritz said. "People have been very receptive, talking and receiving information."

Jennifer McCormick, a registered Democrat from Montgomery Village, chatted with Ritz as she walked to her car. McCormick said the nation's economy weighed heavily on her mind as she cast her ballot. She wanted to support candidates who would give incentives to small businesses and the self employed, she said.

Three Montgomery Village candidates are running for statewide office this election season, which could increase representation for the 40,000-resident homeowner's association community, but residents said a candidate's hometown did not affect their voting.

"In the end, it was really about their positions on key issues that influenced me more than where they lived," said Mary Bonds, a registered Democrat from Montgomery Village.

Some voters turned out even when they had few contests to weigh in on.

"I always vote. I would feel guilty if I didn't come out," said Carol Hemley, a Gaithersburg resident and registered Independent. She and her husband could only vote for board of education candidates during the primary. "We don't want to see a lot of upheaval on the board," Hemley said when asked about her vote.

At Quince Orchard High School, 554 voters had cast ballots by 7 p.m.

Gina Simone of Gaithersburg, who voted with her two children by her side, said she worried Democrats were losing political ground.

"I think Americans are impatient. I think we're in a financial mess and I think it is going to take a long time to get out of it. I think our Democratic elected officials need more than half a term to tackle these issues," she said. "It's not a miracle. It won't happen overnight."

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