CYNDI Power admits she was more nervous about the election in her native United States than the Mildura Council election.
One of the newly elected councillors after last week’s counting of the votes in the local election, Cr Power grew up in the United States in Illinois two hours outside of it’s most populous city Chicago, and kept a keen eye on proceedings in the presidential race between sitting Republican Donald Trump and now president-elect Joe Biden (Democrats).
“I think I was more nervous about the US election, just because of the trickle down effect it’s going to have on our country,” Cr Power said.
“(Sunday) when I woke up and saw the headline I breathed a big sigh of relief, I feel my family is going to be safer … I was definitely more nervous about the US election.
“I’m happy with the result because I’ve always voted Democrat, it’s been a really interesting campaign because my brother — I’m one of two kids — is a very strong Trump fan. So we always have very animated debates and we’ve been doing that on social media throughout this whole time.”
Biden claimed victory on Sunday Australian time, although votes are still counting and Trump has refused to concede and alleged the election had been “stolen” fraudulently.
“I believe in democracy, I’ve been raised the American way, if there is any kind of fraud I hope it’s investigated but it just feels like sour grapes to me and kind of goes along with how (Trump) has been the past four years,” Cr Power said.
“I’m so happy with the result, I’m shocked the states that usually go red went blue, even Southern States, it’s just amazing,
“The people have spoken, time to move on, it’s pretty scary everything that has been going on in the country, I’ve been worried for my family.”
Cr Power moved to Australia in 2008 and became an Australian citizen in 2013.
She said watching how the election in the United States had progressed, with its electoral college system determining who wins the most seats, had been fascinating.
Trump even claimed victory after election day, before all the votes were counted.
“When Trump won Ohio and Florida those two historically speaking are usually an indicator for who is going to win,” Cr Power said.
“Since I think the 1920s they’ve always chosen the winner, so it seemed when he won those that he just assumed he was victorious.
“This election was so fascinating because other states proved him wrong.”
Cr Power hoped Biden’s election would help unify her home country again after the divisions caused by Trump.
“I have friends who actually think there will be a civil war at some stage during this term … I was last there a year ago, before COVID, it was a totally different feeling under Trump’s presidency, it was so frightening, it was so emotionally disturbing.” she said.
“I think Biden winning is a step in the right direction.”
