For two Oxford residents, Election Day was more than just an opportunity to make their voices heard in the democratic process.
For Angela Ball and Dominic Spezia, the Nov. 6 general election represented milestones in each of their lives.
It appears Ball could remember it as the day her child was born. But she didn’t let a little thing like the culmination of the reproductive process stop her from casting her ballot at the Oxford Veterans Memorial Civic Center.
‘She was in labor when she came in here,? said Colleen Schultz, who serves as chair for Oxford Precinct 1. ‘She said, ‘When I went into labor this morning, all I kept thinking was I just want to get here and vote.??
‘She was fanning herself and sweating,? Schultz continued. ‘She said to me, ‘My five kids? futures depend on this.? I said, ‘You have five kids?? and she said, ‘My fifth one’s coming.??
This reporter was unable to reach Ball prior to press time ? for obvious reasons ? but judging by the Romney/Ryan campaign sign in her front yard, it’s fair to say her pre-delivery vote was for the GOP presidential ticket.
Spezia, 20, wasn’t about to give birth, but his participation in the election was significant, too, given it was his first time voting.
‘The last (presidential) election I was only like 16,? said the 2010 Oxford High School graduate. Spezia indicated he voted to return Democrat Barack Obama to the White House.
‘I like his policies a lot better,? he said. ‘He’s doing a lot for education and (with) me being a student, I have to vote for that.?
Spezia is currently enrolled at Oakland Community College where he’s studying computer network engineering.