Voters call for Congress to work together, compromise

Carson City voters interviewed exiting the courthouse Monday echoed a common theme when asked what Congress needs to do: Work together to fix the nation's problems.

One of the words many of them used after casting their ballot for Dean Heller's replacement in the House of Representatives was "compromise." But only a few couched their statements in partisan terms.

"They need to vote on things, not simply say 'no,'" said one state worker who declined to identify herself because of her position. "Compromise. Nothing happens without it."

A steady line of voters turned out for the second day of early voting Monday. Clerk/Recorder Alan Glover said it had been steady since the office opened for business.

"It's been a madhouse," said poll worker Don Hataway.

"Use common sense. There's too much my way or the highway," said Garry Wenzel. "A minority is running the government and refuses to do anything. Sit down and compromise, that's the way I look at it."

His wife Delores agreed saying Congress should "not let ideas get in the way of what they need to do."

"They've got to cooperate," said Willene McGuire. "I'm ready to sweep the (Congress) clear and start over again."

"All this demagoguing about destroying Social Security and Medicare has to stop," said Frank Steinberg. "They need to make some meaningful steps to get the deficit and debt under control."

He said too many members of Congress think only of "their short term interests," not the long term good of the nation.

"They need to think about the welfare of the state and not just follow their leader," said Harry Gammie.

"Give us a stable country," said Donna Wilson. "Make things better. Get along. I'm tired of this."

Alex George, a retiree, said Congress must work together "to make some changes that are positive for us - jobs, the economy."

"Our government's not working," said Bonnie Garnett. "We can't continue on the way we're going."

She was one of the few who put the issues in partisan terms, blaming President Obama and saying he should be recalled.

Ken Gerzel did so as well, but on the other side of the coin: "Eliminate the influence of the Tea Party. They are as disruptive as they can be."

Secretary of State Ross Miller issued a statement Monday saying 6,183 residents of Congressional District 2 went to the polls Saturday, the first day of early voting. In Carson City, 628 turned out Saturday and about a 1,000 more turned out on Monday.