Dearborn Candidate's Wife Shares Election Day Insight From the Polls

The chilly air on Election Day didn't stop supporters of local and state candidates from handing out campaign literature at the polls on Tuesday in Dearborn.

Among the bundled-up canvassers were many people on each side of the city's race for a seat on the 19th District Court—including Chief Judge Richard Wygonik's wife, Adrenne.

Adrenne Wygonik talked to voters at Long Elementary in Dearborn's southwest corner, and said she'd been out in front of the school since 6:30 a.m.

"This is a high-turnout area," she said. "This neighborhood is very educated."

This year marks Judge Wygonik's second race for reelection—and Adrenne herself ran for a seat on Dearborn City Council in the past—so she's no stranger to campaign season.

The voters she encountered Tuesday morning, she added, seemed informed on the elections.

"A lot of people feel like they're pretty comfortable (with who they're voting for)," she said. "A lot of parents are bringing their kids in, too, which is great."

Long's voter count had hit the 200 mark before noon.

She said her decision to stand at Long was due to the expected high turnout and the working-class makeup of the neighborhood. Signage around the school Tuesday noted the fact that Wygonik is endorsed by the Dearborn police and firefighter unions.

Salamey's biggest endorsement is Dearborn Mayor Jack O'Reilly, but some of his biggest supporters at the polls Tuesday were young adults who braved the cold to hand out literature. Fifteen-year-old Dena Bazzi and 21-year-old Soha Elsayed were among them, talking with voters at Woodworth Middle School.

Adrenne commented that it's harder to find campaign volunteers for November elections. But the cold didn't stop Dearborn residents from coming out in droves to vote.

And when it comes down to it, Adrenne said, "The only endorsement that counts is the voters."