The Willow Glen Resident

Polls prove Glenites do get out the vote

By Cecily Barnes

As Willow Glen voters swarmed the polls last Tuesday, the sheer numbers of people who turned out reaffirmed a reputation that has characterized Willow Glen for years--the residents vote.

According to statistics from the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, 14,695 Council District 6 residents cast ballots for San Jose mayor in this last election. District 6 ballots made up about 11 percent of the total votes logged for mayor, compared to 9.3 percent cast in District 2 and 8 percent in District 4. Like District 6, both areas were without council races.

Of the estimated 77,000 people living in City Council District 6, about 39,000 people--or 51 percent--are registered to vote. This number stacks up well against other similarly populated council districts.

District 3 has about 28,000 registered voters, District 5 has around 26,000, District 7 has about 28,000 and District 8 about 40,000. Districts 9 and 10 have about 47,000 and 48,000 registered voters, respectively.

"Definitely the more affluent a neighborhood is, the higher the voter turnout," McGurk said. "Also, the older people are, the more likely they are to vote. In Willow Glen, there's a large senior population. The World War II generation and older is one that has pride in voting."

This year and in years past, District 6 has contributed a higher percentage of votes than other council districts.

In the June 1994 primary for mayor, 107,405 San Jose residents cast ballots, according to statistics provided by the county Registrar of Voters. Of those, 16,454, or approximately 15 percent of those votes, were cast by residents living in District 6.

Political candidates know of Willow Glen's voting reputation and thus court the voters in the area. "When you start a campaign, you look at the frequency of voters in different districts," McGurk said. "Those neighborhoods with high voter turnout, that's where you start, that's how you allocate your priorities."

The Willow Glen community has also produced organizations, which demonstrate that the residents are politically active and involved. Primarily, the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association and the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association show that people have the wherewithal to come together, organize and lobby on their behalf.

"I think the neighborhood association is a reflection of a community that is concerned about their government and the things that go on around them," said Kris Cunningham, president of the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association.

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