November 2008 Archives

Joe Pass, who in between being somewhat and more than somewhat famous taught guitar lessons out of his Northridge, Calif., garage, is one of a kind, a master of his genre and instrument.

When it came to voting in his first presidential election, Kyle Honkoski left nothing to chance.

The 21-year-old Van Nuys resident, who works at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills, took the day off to make sure he could cast his ballot.

"I stayed up late watching the news," Honkoski said at 11 a.m. Tuesday in line at the Burbank Oaks Apartments in Sherman Oaks. "I'm actually really excited."

The apartment complex on Burbank Boulevard, just north of the Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks border, drew a long line of voters the entire morning, with waits of about an hour.

While Honkoski was eager to cast his vote for Barack Obama, 76-year-old Van Nuys resident Louise Gfeiner was thinking more about who she was voting against.

The retired registered nurse wore a vintage "Morris for President" button. In case you don't remember, Morris was the finicky cat who would only eat 9Lives brand food.

"I think (John) McCain is too old," Honkoski said, "and if he dies, we'll have Sarah (Palin). She may be fine as governor, but I'm not ready for her to be president."

Honkoski was also planning to vote against most of the measures on the ballot.

I think we're deeply in debt enough. We can't afford more bond issues."

During their hour wait in the morning sun, voters had plenty of time to chat with their neighbors, or even catch up on their reading.

Jill Jacobson-Bennett, 53, of Van Nuys, carried a volume on California native plants.

A choreographer-turned-landscape designer, Jacobson-Bennett was as determined as others in line.

"I feel passionate about the election and some of the propositions — I want my voice to be heard," said the Democrat, a former Hillary Clinton supporter. While happy to cast her vote for Obama, she was glad Sen. Clinton didn't draw the vice-presidential spot that instead went to Sen. Joe Biden.

"I don't think it would have worked," Jacobson-Bennett said of the Obama-Clinton ticket that never was. "It would lessen her power politically — and I'd like to see her run again."

Jacobson-Bennett's husband, Dale Bennett, a Disney animator and registered Republican, voted earlier in the day.

"We usually cancel each other out, but I convinced him to vote my way on the propositions," said the ardent supporter of Proposition 2 and opponent of Proposition 8.

Prop. 2 would improve conditions for farm animals. Prop. 8 seeks to ban gay marriage in the state.

At one point, a voter shouted to a friend, "Starbucks after we vote!"

"There's a long line there, too," another yelled. The coffee chain — which has a small, busy store at the corner of Burbank and Van Nuys boulevards — was pouring free drinks for voters with the fortitude to brave two lines in one day.

Other polling places in the area were similarly inundated. Waits of an hour were reported at the Horace Heidt apartment complex on Magnolia Boulevard, and lines snaked out of the auditorium door at Chandler Elementary School, both in Sherman Oaks.