THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 17, 1996 TAG: 9605150110
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
The chart on the opposite page contains the official results of the May 7 general election, reflecting the vote canvass conducted by the Portsmouth Electoral Board.
In Chesapeake, write-in votes were cast for Hollywood's leading men - Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson, Steven segal and Patrick Swayze.
But Portsmouth voters don't play around when it comes to their ballots, according to City Registrar Deloris Overton.
That doesn't mean the unusually large number of candidates didn't confuse some people in the May 7 election. The only two write-in votes were for people who were actually on the ballot, she said.
Overton had worried that the field of candidates would mean long waits at the polls.
But, all in all, voters streamed in and out of the polls swiftly, Overton said.
``Everything went off great - even with the rain. I think the voters were serious. They knew who they wanted to vote for.''
Overton also was thrilled to see Portsmouth make headlines for the ``heaviest turnout of voters'' in South Hampton Roads. The same story reported all top-10 voting precincts were in Portsmouth.
Lakeview Elementary School in Cavalier Manor drew the largest percentage of voters - 60 percent - and helped put Dr. James Holley back in the mayor's seat.
``I'm just happy for the turnout for everybody,'' Overton said. ``Regardless of who wins or who loses, I'm just happy that people vote.''
Overton said one Portsmouth couple - Iris and Clyde Perry - got married on Election Day, but not until they had voted.
The next day, the bride came into the city registrar's office to put in her name change.
``Now that,'' Overton said, ``is citizenship!'' MEMO: For complete election results, see microfilm. by CNB