Dismal voter turnout in Northeast

Election judges Sylvia Jones, left, and Bettie Jeffrey, assist voters at Holy Cross Catholic Church during the March 22 Municipal General Election. Leslie Collins

Campaign signs line the parking lot at the Don Bosco Senior Center. Leslie Collins

By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
March 30, 2011

Voters in Historic Northeast didn’t flock to the polls March 22.

Ward 10 reported the highest voter turnout in Northeast with 29 percent of registered voters voting in the Municipal General Election.

In that ward, Kansas City mayoral candidate Sly James garnered 50.4 percent of the vote while his opponent Mike Burke drew 49.6 percent.

Voter turnout in other Northeast wards were 16 percent in Ward 11; 14 percent in Ward 12; 12 percent in Ward 13; and 19 percent in Ward 14.

In wards 11, 12 and 13, voters favored Burke.

James won the race, however, with 54 percent of the vote while Burke garnered 46 percent.

During his concession speech, Burke called Kansas City a “wonderful city,” and added, “I’m pleased we will have a mayor that will help tell that Kansas City story and make us proud again.

“We made a pact we would run a clean, issue oriented campaign and I hope people can recognize it is possible to set a standard and set a bar on a campaign.”

Results in the city council races are:

1st District At-Large

Scott Wagner, 70 percent

Daina Kennedy, 30 percent

2nd District At-Large

Ed Ford, 57 percent

Allen Dillingham, 43 percent

3rd District At-Large

Melba J. Curls, 57 percent

Brandon Ellington, 43 percent

4th District At-Large

John Crawford, 45 percent