Claremont COURIER/Friday, November 11, 2016 13
COURIERphotos/Steven Felschundneff
ABOVE: Sonja Stump helps Paul Reisch submit his ballot on Election Day at Sycamore School. Ms. Stump
and her husband Bob Fagg have been poll workers for years, most of that time at Sycamore. Their daugh-
ter Gretchen Fagg, at right, signs in voters. Ms. Fagg and her sister Rachel are the third-generation in the
family to become poll workers in Claremont.
Family has Sycamore School polling precinct covered
F
or most of us, November 8 is a time
to make our mark, playing a crucial
role in the political process. For the
Stump-Fagg family, its time to get to work.
For 24 years, Sonja Stump and Bob Faggowners
of a longstanding Claremont photography studiohave
turned out to Sycamore Elementary School to serve as
pollworkers for the Claremont precinct. In recent years,
theyve been joined by their daughter, COURIER clas-
sifieds editor Rachel Fagg.
Ms. Stump, a certified election inspector, pioneered
the household tradition of civic duty. She first became
a poll worker in 1980, in the contest where Ronald Rea-
gan knocked out incumbent Jimmy Carter. Mr. Fagg
joined her in 1992.
This Tuesday, the race foremost on everyones mind
was the one between Republican candidate Donald
Trump and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. The
excitement was enough to lure Ms. Stump and Mr.
Faggs other daughter, Gretchen, from her home in
London.
As a dual citizen, shes eligible to vote in the United
States and was eager to have her say. Were always
glad that our girls appreciate being able to vote, Ms.
Stump said.
Presidential elections tend to draw more community
engagement. We had a really good turnout, Ms.
Stump said. We had 660 voters. When we opened,
there were 50 or 60 people at the polls. One guy said he
waited 40 minutes to vote.
Municipal elections are sometimes a different story.
Weve had whole days when weve barely hit 250 vot-
ers, Ms. Stump said.
Shes been moved by the pride shown in recent years
by the see people of Iraqsome of them women in full
hijabafter voting. Holding up a purple ink-stained
finger, the Iraqi version of an I voted sticker, has been
a badge of honor since the countrys first free elections
in 2005.
I think of how proud they are. People dont always
appreciate what a privilege it is, Ms. Stump said, tear-
ing up.
The couple is well aware that political involvement
can be divisive. I dont even talk to Sonja about who
Im going to vote for, Mr. Fagg said.
Ms. Stump said she understands that a lot is at stake,
but would like to people behave in a more congenial
manner, despite their differences of opinion. Its been a
rough campaign in that respect, she noted.
I think the level of rudeness has gone up incremen-
tally, she asserted. I dont think Ive ever seen quite
as much vitriol.
Still, she believes Americans will get back to getting
along once some of the hard feelings fade.
I think that whoever [won], most Americans are
going to say, Okay, Im going to give this a person a
chance, Ms. Stump said. Well mend some fences.
Ms. Stump and Mr. Fagg share many fond memories
of working the precinct, particularly of the days when
Bob Fagg hands a sticker to a voter after she sub-
mitted her ballot.
their girls were small and attending Sycamore.
At recess theyd come running down the hall and
say, Hey Papa, hey Mama! It was sweet, Mr. Fagg
recalled.
Some years, Sycamore students file into the lobby of
the multi-purpose room to catch a glimpse of democ-
racy at work. Theyre warned to be quiet and are in-
structed to sit on the floor, respecting voters privacy.
If Ms. Stump and Mr. Fagg arent too busy, theyll let
the kids try marking a sample ballot with choices like
Abraham Lincoln for president.
There were no classroom visits this time around, but
a number of voters brought their kids with them and
into the voting booth. We gave them all I voted stick-
ers, Ms. Stump said.
Local kids benefit from more than a civics lesson.
Sycamore students also make a little money with a bake
sale they hold to coincide with election day. Money
goes to fund the sixth graders outdoor science school.
Ms. Stump and Mr. Fagg wish there were even more
potential customers for the young entrepreneurs.
Sadly, not enough people vote, Ms. Stump said. We
couldnt handle the crowd if everyone in our precinct
showed up.
Still, there are lots and lots of regulars.
One of my favorite things about working the polls
is I get to see neighborspeople Ive known for years
POLL PEOPLE/page 15

POLL PEOPLE/from page 13
and years, Mr. Fagg said. We know which neighbors
have passed away, whos there first thing in the morn-
ing and who are always the last two people.
Its fun to say hi, but Election Day is not just a so-
cial whirl.
The husband-and-wife team shows up the evening
before to set up the precinct, then arrives at 6 a.m. on
November 8. The polls close at 8 p.m. and they stay
another hour or so, making sure the signatures on the
roster match those on the ballots.
Next, they drive the sealed ballot box to La Verne,
Claremont COURIER/Friday, November 11, 2016 15
where they line up in the civic center parking lot. A
sheriff supervises as election supplies are turned over,
ready to be taken to Norwalk for tabulation.
After that, the Stump-Fagg family is able to do
what everyone else in the country seems to do. They
go home and turn on the news, to see which candi-
dates and initiatives are taking the lead.
They paid particular attention to a local issue on the
ballot: the fate of Measure G. The general obligation
bond ended up passing handily, so Claremont schools
will be getting $58 million in facility upgrades.
In the ramp-up to November 8, Mr. Stump and Ms.
Fagg had a sign on their lawn, rooting for Measure G.
There was no sign of their boosterism at the elec-
tion site, however. Poll workers are banned from
showing any sign of electioneering. And all those
who come to vote must keep their ballot choices pri-
vate, too, according to Ms. Stump.
If someone comes in wearing a political button,
they have to remove it. If they have on a t-shirt es-
pousing a particular candidate or measure, they are
asked to go into the restroom and put it on backwards.
Its not just kids who get dress-coded!
Mr. Fagg said he cant emphasize enough the im-
portance of weighing in on political decisions on the
local level.
Im a guy that believes everything comes from the
people up, locally, rather than from the top down,
Mr. Fagg said. I admire our local leaders efforts.
Ms. Stump agreed, but said she prefers to keep her
contribution to governance behind the scenes.
People tell me, you should run for city council,
Ms. Stump said. My skin isnt thick enough.
Sarah Torribio
storribio@claremont-courier.com