[Update] Voters Want Next President to Grow Economy, Jobs

About 15.2 percent of registered Republicans in Avon came out to vote in the presidential primaries Tuesday and 466 of the 599 who voted endorsed Mitt Romney.

Avon voters weren't surprised that turnout was low at the polls, citing Rick Santorum's suspension of his campaign, low publicity about the primaries and nationwide reports of Romney as the frontrunner as some of the reasons why.

"It's meanlingless unless you just want to make a statement," Avon resident Geoffrey Brod said. "We wanted to make a statement."

He voted at town hall with his wife, Joan, who expressed a sense of urgency about putting a Republican in the White House. Many Republicans shared similar sentiments at the polls, not unlike the reaction of numerous Democrats in the 2000 election when President George W. Bush ran for a second term.

"Get rid of Obama," Joan Brod said. "Anything but what we've had for the last four years."

The rising cost of gas was just one of Brod's many concerns.

"Look at all these cars driving. They're paying almost $5 a gallon for gas because he won't agree to have this pipeline opened up," Brod said.

A common desire for Avon voters is for the next president to stabilize the economy and create jobs.

"I just want a change of attitude in Washington, said Avon resident John Winchester, who is a Romney supporter because he thinks Romney has a strong business sense. "I want to see smaller government and lower taxes."

Avon resident Lee Lester was one of many Romney supporters voting at Avon High School Tuesday.

"I know he has a good handle on what's going on," Lester said. "We've got to learn to pay our bills and live within our budget like we do in our household."

She also said she hopes people will donate more to charities and organizations that need funding. Lester would also like to see a movement to get people "wanting to work."

"There's a great pride in getting your paycheck and not just somebody sending you money," Lester said.

Terri Wilson, another Avon resident voting at Avon High School, said she is not committed to any of the candidates, but said that voting is a civic duty she would never miss out on.

"I have to say that, being a Republican all my life, I am not thrilled with any of the candidates," Wilson said. "I don't feel that they really represent me, my family or my friends and I'm sorry about that because I think that there's a lot of out of touch and we need some people with better vision and touch with the local folks."

Do you agree with what they said? Have something to add? Post a comment!

Editor's Note: This article was updated at 11:36 a.m. to add the perspectives of Avon residents at the polls.

If there's something in this article that you think should be corrected, contact Avon Patch Editor Jessie Sawyer at 860-356-6339 or Jessie.Sawyer@patch.com. Join in on the Avon Patch conversation on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AvonPatch) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/AvonPatch). You can also add your own announcements and events or apply to blog on Patch. To get daily Avon Patch updates in your email inbox, sign up for our newsletter.