The Final Push

Friends, family and campaign posted signs and themselves outside of several polling places throughout the Florissant area for one last stand for their respective candidates.

Supporters ranged from the six candidates of the mayoral race to the school board candidates to the Florissant Valley . Several arrived at the 6 a.m. poll opening time to be able to speak to as many voters as they possibly can.

Tom Fink, a supporter, began camping out to work the poll at the branch at 5 a.m. He even brought donuts to the poll workers and helped set up.

Fink said he usually likes to work behind the scenes, but he changed his mind for this time around.

“This one I really believe in,” he said regarding Susan Geerling’s candidacy. “I think it’s time for a woman to be running a city like this.”

At , off of Patterson Road, the candidates for the seat were both being represented by family at the polls. Karen Caputa, the sister of challenger Jeff Caputa, pointed out just how hard her brother had been working the past few months on his campaign.

“He’s worked hard for this,” Caputa said. “This means something to him, it’s important. The same dedication he’s shown in his campaign, he’ll maintain when he’s elected.”

Tom George, the cousin of Ward 4 incumbent Keith English, expressed how much he has enjoyed the entire campaign process.

“It’s nice to be here campaigning for Keith,” George said. “I just wish the best of luck to everybody.”

Throughout Florissant, strong support for Matt Becker by Florissant Fire Fighters was evident outside the polls. Mark Schaeffler and Scott Seppelt both expressed their support in Becker and the new direction he represents.

“Matt is change, and it’s time for a change,” Seppelt said.

“He’s a young kid who wants to do a little good for his community, and that’s why we’re out here supporting him,” Schaeffler said.

As far as voter turnout, several of the supporters said that it hasn’t been as busy as a national election but hoped it would pick up during the day, even though it was a municipal election that usually yields low turnout.

“It hasn’t been a flow, but it’s been a trickle of people,” Ellen Geerling, sister of mayoral candidate Susan Geerling.

Amelia Schultz, who was out at helping judge candidate , said it’s sad that more people don’t come out to vote in municipal elections.

“People come out for the big ones, and this seems always light,” she said. “This impacts more people personally, it’s much more of an immediate impact.”