Turnout 'Slow' at Land O' Lakes Polls

Pasco firefighters and a retired teacher were among those out holding campaign signs in the mucky heat this morning at the Land O' Lakes Community Center, but the voters were slow to trickle in.

The turnout for Tuesday's primary election so far was "light, but steady," Pasco County firefighter Joe Russo said.

Russo and fellow firefighter John Nazitto were out to endorse Pasco County Commission candidates Bill Gunter, Ron Oakley and Kathryn Starkey.

Caryn McDermot spent 33 years as a Land O' Lakes high teacher and administrator. She spent the morning braving the heat and the traffic speeding by to wave voters in to the community center to support Kurt Browning for superintendent.

McDermot knew Browning as a student, she said. She turned out to support him because he has a positive attitude, is hard working and "somebody to respect," she said.

There were more supporters than voters around 10:30 a.m. at the community center— the one voter who did come out around that time didn't want to stop to chat.

"I voted!" she said as she hurried to her car.

The slow turnout is a "shame," but "typical," McDermot said. Several races will be decided by this primary."

How was the turnout at your polling place? Let us know in the comments section.