Connie Hughes, 66, a registered Republican from Interlaken, planned to vote for Forrester for governor — not because she really supports him, but because she does not want Corzine to win.
"More than half the time, I'm not voting for the person I want," Hughes said. "It's very disheartening to be voting against somebody than for somebody."
Helen Barth, 72, a registered Democrat from Roosevelt, said she generally votes straight Democratic, but has crossed party lines. When she does cross party lines, it is usually because she feels "strongly about an issue and I know the candidate feels" the same.
While "I like him (Corzine) anyway," Corzine is getting her vote because of an issue — his support of stem-cell research, Barth said. That is important to her because her husband, Leon, 76, a former Roosevelt mayor, has Parkinson's disease, and stem-cell research could provide answers to his treatment.
Angelo DiGiovanni of Dover Township, a Democrat who said he is over 65, said gubernatorial television commercials are vicious and "there's too much going back and forth." DiGiovanni said he is leaning toward voting for Corzine.
Rivello, a registered Republican who generally votes that way, is not sure whom he wants for governor. Corzine is "out of the question" for Rivello, but he said he is unsure about Forrester.
"It's hard to get past the spin, but they've (seniors) been around a long time," Hughes said. "They make their decisions. I think you have more seniors voting than young people. We were raised with a responsibility to vote."
In Monmouth County, those 65 and over were 12.5 percent of the overall population, or 76,923 of 615,301. That percentage increases when only considering voting-age members of the population — about 17.4 percent, or 76,923 of approximately 441,743.
Viewing seniors as those 55 and older, they become more dominant — 21.6 percent of the overall population, or 133,158 of 615,301, and 30.1 percent of the voting population, or 133,158 of about 441,743.
In Ocean County, those 65 and older are a more powerful group — 22.2 percent of the overall population, or 113,260 of 510,916. When only considering voting age residents, seniors are 29.7 percent, or 113,260 of about 381,751.
Viewing seniors as those 55 and older, they are 31.7 percent of the overall population, or 161,954 of 510,916, and 42.4 percent of the voting population, or 161,954 of approximately 381,751.
"The voting turnout in the senior districts is historically higher," said Robert F. Giles, executive supervisor of the Ocean County Election Board, referring to various types of elections. "You can just see if you go through a town like Dover (Township), if you go into a senior community, you can see a spike (in turnout)."
Perhaps larger turnouts result from many Ocean County seniors living in adult communities, which, sometime, are voting districts in themselves and having better organization within them, Giles said.
"It's too costly if you are a senior," DiGiovanni said. "I'm getting by, but I have to reserve myself on a lot of things. Driving, it's too expensive. We have to moderate our heat to a lower temperature."
"Unless you are 65 and have supplemental (health insurance), you are in big trouble," Rivello said. "I think this country should have national health (care). This country is the greatest in the world, why can't we give everybody free medical care and hospitalization?"
Robert Hoebee, 76, of Lacey owns an advertising firm, where he works full time. So he, too, is better off than other seniors, but he understands their pain.
While a registered Republican, Hoebee said he votes not by party line, but "for the person and the issue." In this election, Hoebee said he is voting for fellow Republican Forrester.
"They're (politicians) all going to lower property taxes, but I'm satisfied," said Rosen, who receives a $1,200 rebate on $3,000 in property taxes. "Leave it alone. I'm satisfied with what I get."
Social Security should be guaranteed for future generations, said Hughes, who owns Personalized Financial Services, which provides bookkeeping services for people. Otherwise, just clearing the bureaucratic maze — whether inside or outside of government — is important, Hughes said.
"The bureaucracy has become overwhelming," Hughes said. "If they (seniors) need help, some can't plow through the paperwork. It's not that there's no help out there, it's how to get to it. It's overwhelming. You can't call anywhere and get a live person on the other end (of the telephone) — these damn automated menus."
"I'm a fiscal conservative, and it just depends who's running," Hughes said. "As far as the governorship is concerned, I don't like the idea that anybody is buying a job."
The difficulty of voters getting around political spin is one thing, Hughes said. But also mind-boggling is the millions of dollars candidates spend on that spin, she said.
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