When the polls opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday at Leisure World, one of the largest voting blocs in the county, there were more candidates and campaign volunteers at the District 19 voting precinct than voters.

According to election support staff, 10 people were in line when the polls opened, with one man who had been waiting since 6 a.m. to vote.

The walkway leading up to Clubhouse I, one of two voting sites at Leisure World, presented a barrage of campaign signs with volunteers and candidates passing out fliers.

Voters

Education and transportation were among the issues that drew voters to the polls in District 14 early Tuesday.

At Greenwood Elementary School in Olney, election officials recorded 95 Democrats and 41 Republicans who had voted by 10 a.m.

Daniel Matathias and his son Samuel Matathias of Brookville both voted at Greenwood Elementary. It was the first time that Samuel, 17, had voted.

Matathias said their family was most concerned about maintaining funding for education, particularly special education programs and transportation.

"We've lived here for 21 years," Daniel said, "and we're thankful that the (Intercounty Connector) is finally being built. It will help to clear out some of the traffic on the local roads, which are always terrible."

Marjorie Rosenthal of Olney said she supports the environment, education and more employment opportunities in Montgomery County.

"All the good things that Democrats support," Rosenthal said with a laugh.

Barry Gough of Olney, a teacher in county public schools, said he does not support the idea of having the responsibility of funding the teachers' pensions to be shifted to the county instead of the state and hopes the new elected officials will address the issue.

Kagan v. Forehand

District 17 Senate hopeful Cheryl Kagan was at Carver Education Center in Rockville about 2 p.m. Tuesday, casting her ballot and greeting voters who passed by.

"It was fun for me to see great neighbors and friends," she said, referring to her stops at the precincts. "We were very well received."

Former Rockville Mayor James Coyle was there working on her campaign.

"She was a very good delegate," he said. "We like Cheryl. We thought she would make a good senator."

He said he has supported Forehand in her previous campaigns but switched to Kagan this time around. He said he appreciates that Kagan is concerned about the environment and said she brings new energy and a new perspective to the Senate seat.

"We haven't had choices," he said of the few challengers in previous Senate races. "Jennie does a good job, but Cheryl would be better given the issues that the county is facing," he said.

mliu@gazette.net

Staff writer Susan Singer-Bart contributed to this story.

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