Temple Terrace Candidates Visit Polls

City Councilwoman Mary Jane Neale waved at passersby in front of Temple Terrace Presbyterian Church, holding up a large sign that encouraged voters to re-elect her.

“Thank you all for coming out to vote,” she shouted to constituents headed from the church to their cars.

Neale and fellow City Council candidates Grant Rimbey and Eddie Vance, as well as mayoral candidates Frank Chillura and Cheri Donohue, scattered all over Temple Terrace on Election Day, visiting polls, meeting voters, and each making a final push to garner support.

“Ready for an exciting day,” said Vance Tuesday morning. He was also at Temple Terrace Presbyterian Church waving signs.

He said he’ll be at Shamrock’s Ale House tonight having a supporter appreciation and election watch party with family, friends and supporters.

“I’m just excited that the day’s finally here,” he said.

Rimbey started Election Day at Woodmont Clubhouse, holding up a large round sign that read simply: “Rimbey for City Council.”

“I’m here for a couple hours, and then I’m going to the Baptist Church on Fowler (Fowler Avenue Baptist Church),” he said.

He said he has about 20 supporters waving signs at Temple Terrace’s polling locations. He plans to be at his parent’s house with family and friends once election results start rolling in.

“We’re keeping it pretty low-key,” he said.

Chillura also plans to stay home and check for election results online. He’s invited his supporters, too.

“It’s more of an appreciation to them for all the support they’ve given me,” he said as he looked over at four supporters waving to voters at Woodmont Clubhouse at 10:15 a.m.

By that time, Chillura said he had already been to every Temple Terrace polling location. He started putting out signs at 4 a.m.

“I’ve been everywhere twice already,” he said.

He said he’s proud of the way each of the candidates has campaigned.

“Everybody was pretty friendly,” he said. “That’s what makes it really nice. The candidates respected one another and focused on the issues. That’s what’s great about Temple Terrace—there’s no negativity.”

He took his cell phone from his pocket and opened a picture. It was a group photo that his supporters at First Baptist Church Temple Terrace, another polling location, had taken with Chillura’s opponent, Donohue, earlier in the morning.

“You say it’s your opponent,” Chillura said, “but I’ve said I’m not running against Cheri; I’m running for mayor.”

Donohue held an umbrella over her head to avoid the early morning rain and talked to voters as they headed inside First Baptist Church Temple Terrace. One voter was at the wrong polling place, so Donohue gave her directions to the correct one.

First Baptist was the first polling location that Donohue had visited, and she said she had chosen it strategically.

“I knew that there’d be a heavy concentration of people whose houses I’ve visited,” she said. “And I knew I’d already made a connection with them.”

Donohue said she planned to visit all of Temple Terrace’s polling locations throughout the course of the day.

“Today’s my last chance,” she said, moving her umbrella slightly to see if the rain had stopped. There was still a bit of a drizzle.

She’s having a party for family, friends and supporters at her home tonight as election results come in.

“I’m telling everyone: ‘If you see that I’m declared the winner, just come on over,’” she said. “‘We’ll keep partying.’”

Neale, the only incumbent in either Temple Terrace race, will have a party tonight for family, friends and supporters at Café Kili.

The sun was shining by the time she got to the Presbyterian church. At 10:40 a.m., she said she had visited four polling locations, crossing each one off a list with several more to go.

Neale said she had been trying to approach everyone she met to hand out her campaign cards.

“It’s been going well,” she said.

See also:
Election Day: What You Need To Know in Temple Terrace
Small Business Owner Says Voting is a Responsibility
When Will Election Results Be Announced in Hillsborough County?