By Jonathan Fritz
The Faithful Shepherd Presbyterian church played host a wide array of voters from the 1st and 2nd Precincts of the 6th Ward on Tuesday.
The presidential race weighed heavily on the minds of voters as the doors opened at 8 a.m. Each voter had a different reason for casting his or her ballot.
Dave Davis, a small business owner from Omaha, chose Republican candidate John McCain as his choice for president. Democratic candidate Barack Obama would raise taxes on his company and cause him to lose business, Davis said. In regards to the issues the Senate and House raises, Davis said he “voted a straight ticket.”
A newcomer to Omaha, Jason Bebout registered to vote in Omaha shortly before the election. He voted for McCain because he is honorable and will stick to his word. Obama “changes with the wind,” Bebout said.
Bebout is against gun control and sides with McCain on the necessity of finishing the job in Iraq. “Unfortunately,” Bebout said, “if I was a betting man, I would say Obama will win.”
Not all voters in West Omaha believe John McCain is the man for the job. Anne Tillotson, a registered Republican voted for Obama. Tillotson said she chooses a candidate on the issues, not because of the party.
She is a strong supporter of a woman’s right to choose and said Obama’s stance on issues is in line with hers. Tillotson, who strongly agrees with Obama’s drive to enlist the youth of America, said, “If you don’t go out and vote, you don’t have the right to complain about where your tax money goes.”
