By Karen Branch-Brioso
The Tampa Tribune

12:48 p.m., Brandon

It’s just lunchtime for most everyone else. But for Patrick and Nancy Sullivan, their middle-of-the-day trip to the polls at the Brandon Community Center is far more momentous.

For the first time – ever – Nancy is casting a ballot today. She’s 52, just like her husband. But they both had very different approaches to voting until today.

“I grew up in an era when I didn’t trust government,” Nancy says. “I didn’t think my vote counted.”

Patrick has persuaded her otherwise: “Voting’s a right. We should take responsibility. You can’t complain about government if you’re not going to vote.”

He may have persuaded her to vote. But there’s a chance they’ll diverge when it comes to how they’ll vote for governor. Nancy likes Republican Charlie Crist. Patrick is heading into the polls trying to decide between Crist, Democrat Jim Davis or even minor-party candidate.

But that’s not what has Nancy worried. She’s a first-timer, after all: “I’m scared. I don’t know how to vote.”

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