Suddenly Tuesday, one of the most most important events in Cincinnati history — a direct election for a strong mayor — seemed less important.

        All four candidates in the nonpartisan primary race suspended campaigning by mid-morning.

        Turnout — already expected to be low in the first-of-its-kind September election — fell even further after the crashes and explosions at the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

        At the Mount Airy United Methodist Church, 102 voters of 1,749 registered voters had cast ballots by mid-afternoon. In College Hill, at the Golden Leaf Baptist Church, 281 of 2,339 registered voters had turned out.

        Hyde Park resident Mary Margaret Huess, 81, was one of the few who did vote Tuesday morning. “Voting is all the more important in light of such a tragedy, in that it reinforces our Democratic freedoms,” she said.

        Elections director Julie Stautberg said officials had no systematic way of checking turnout Tuesday, as they do for general elections.

        However, poll workers at various precincts said turnout was almost non-existent after 10 a.m.

        Mayor Charlie Luken voted at 9 a.m., then spent the day at City Hall coordinating an emergencyresponse with county, state and federal officials.

        Courtis Fuller, the Charter Committee candidate and former TV news anchor, at midday told his volunteers at polling places to go home. He had planned to speak to retired government workers but instead spent the day at campaign headquarters downtown.

        Michael Riley, an independent candidate, said his thoughts were with a cousin, who works for New York City's Metropolitan Transit Authority.

        Also on the ballot was Bill Brodberger, owner of a private security company whose services were much in demand Tuesday. He could not be reached for comment.

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