Political signs may be springing up in grassy patches faster than dandelions, but in Northwest Georgia potential voters don’t quite seem to have a handle on the names that will be on election ballots later this summer.
At a playground in downtown Ringgold, 49-year-old teacher Cheryl Grayson said she plans to vote in all the elections, with particular attention paid to the local races. She plans to dive in and research the candidates later this summer, she said, and until then she will try to ignore most of the star-spangled slogans on campaign literature.
“Signs don’t do it for me,” she said, watching her 3-year-old son Alex playing. “That just means they’ve got money.”
At the intersection in front of the playground, campaign signs urge voters to cast ballots for U.S. congressional candidates Lee Hawkins and Tom Graves, state Senate candidate Jim Pope, state House candidate Tom Doolery and insurance commissioner candidate Gerry Purcell.
Bashing golf balls around James E. Brown Park in Dalton, Johnny Mills said he’s looked over the sample ballots and is disturbed by the number of incumbents running unopposed.
“That makes me wonder if we’re starting to just accept things the way they are,” said the 58-year-old retired city employee.
Usually, Mr. Mills votes for Democrats but said he will vote Republican, depending on the candidates’ merit. Between drives, he said he wished more voters and elected officials would do the same.
“I just think too many people vote along the party line rather than what’s best for our community and our state and our country,” he said.
The party line may be changing for Dalton resident Joie Hope. She said her family has voted Republican for years but may be switching.
“Now we’re all thinking about voting independent,” said the 46-year-old, who cleans houses for a living.
Many said it’s time to sweep the slate clean and get fresh blood in office, but others say getting rid of all incumbents is not a good idea.
“A lot of people say you’ve got to throw them all out,” said Jim Smith, a retired Pennsylvanian living in Ringgold. “That’s a normal emotional reaction, but it’s stupid.”
After a stroll along a walking trail in Ringgold with his dog PJ, Mr. Smith, 56, said he usually sided with Republicans but likes many of the ideas tea party members support. He and others said the protest group’s ideas about small government and lower taxes are appealing to former small-business owners like him.
This election season, he said he knew a little bit about the statewide races but didn’t know anything about the offices further down the ballot.
“This local stuff, I don’t have a clue,” he said. “I think that’s true with most people.”
Others like 79-year-old Dalton resident Roy Seay aren’t even paying attention to the bigger races.
“To tell you the truth, I can’t even name who’s running,” Mr. Seay said, sitting on his front porch last week.
In Ringgold, 72-year-old vending machine maintenance man Larry Holloway said he last voted four or five years ago and won’t vote this year because politicians are more concerned about party lines than helping the country.
“They’d rather fight each other,” he said, taking a break from strumming his guitar.
Mr. Holloway often squeezes in solo gospel practice before work while sitting on a bench beside the South Chickamauga Creek.
“I just leave it to the Lord,” he said of the country’s political leadership.
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