KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Election officials at Northland Cathedral off of NW 99th Street and North Oak Trafficway said they predicted a fairly low voter turnout, but were surprised on election night.
As of 5 p.m., around 2,500 ballots had been cast, which was a higher turnout than in years past.
"There's been a lot of campaigning and a lot of news coverage, so I think that helps the turnout every time," precinct officer Brenda Cushing said.
Both candidates for District 2 - Kevin McEvoy and incumbent Dan Fowler - were there campaigning. The two said they will work to bring more Northland representation to city hall.
"What in the Northland has happened so far, we feel, for the amount of money we pay into the city we're not getting the same in return. So we feel a disconnect with city hall, and that's one of the reasons I'm running," McEvoy, who runs a steel company said.
He's been a Northland resident since the early 2000s.
Fowler said the numbers are there, but because historically the Northland doesn't have a large turnout at the polls, there was a concerted effort in his campaign to reach more people.
"First things I think we need to do is to develop more of the resources that we as Northlanders pay for in terms of roads, streets and bridges to the Northland. We've done a good job in the past with being able to keep portions of the tax up here. We all pay the GO Bond and I think we're all entitled to a relatively equal share of those dollars," Fowler said.
Mayoral candidate Jolie Justus stopped by Northland Cathedral in the afternoon.
She told 41 Action News that she's confident people up north will vote for her because of the work she did canvassing door-to-door.
Justus is the current city councilperson for District 4, which reaches part of the Northland.
"What I know the Northland will love about me being mayor is that this won't be the last time you see me. I'm going to be bringing city hall to the Northland and I think that's what people have been asking for," she said.
Mayoral candidate Quinton Lucas was at the location during lunchtime. He did not do as well in the Northland in the primaries as Justus.
"I was knocking on doors in the Northland, pretty far in the north, and all these people said, 'I heard of you, I researched you and I believe in you.' And that's what keeps you going," Lucas said.
The polls closed at 7 p.m.
