Jane Lerner

jlerner@lohud.com

Whether you’re rooting for a front-runner to close big or a contested convention, there’s no denying the April 19 New York presidential primaries matter this year – and both Republican and Democratic primary voters are being fiercely courted. As the candidates look to rally their base and draw in new converts, we took a look at the types of voters they are counting on for support in the Lower Hudson Valley.

CLINTON: Meet five Hillary Clinton supporters

SANDERS: Meet five Bernie Sanders supporters

TRUMP: Meet five Donald Trump supporters

KASICH: Meet five John Kasich supporters

We found Ted Cruz' supporters identify as Conservatives who revere the U.S. Constitution, value religious liberty and want to see government get smaller. They are a diverse group of people who range from elderly to the young, evangelical Christians to Orthodox Jews.

Here are five of their stories:

HOWARD HELLWINKEL

Age, hometown: 64, North Salem

Background: Hellwinkel is the founder and owner of a company that supplies and manufactures office chair components. He and his wife, former Croton-on-Hudson residents, have been married for 35 years and have two children.

Voted for last time: Mitt Romney

Why Cruz: “Ted Cruz ran as a conservative in Texas and he made promises to his constituents. When he went to Washington, he fulfilled his promises and he did not succumb to the entrapments of the DC establishment." He also likes Cruz’ stance on government, economic policy and gun rights. “I agree with his policy toward the national debt, government spending and the size of the government,” Hellwinkel said. “He is also a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. Ted Cruz will conserve our rights given to us by our founders to protect ourselves.”

MENACHEM PERL

Age, hometown: 28, Monsey

Background: Perl works as an account executive in retail electronics at a New York City company. He grew up in the Monsey area and attended yeshiva and then Fairleigh Dickinson University. He is married with one child and another on the way.

Voted for last time: Mitt Romney

Why Cruz: “I tend to be conservative,” Perl said. “I usually vote Republican.” But this election is tough, he said, because he does not like the Republican front runner, Donald Trump. “That’s why I’m voting for Cruz,” he said. Perl likes Cruz’ stance on the Middle East. “I think he will be very supportive of Israel,” he said. “That’s what I want to see. The Democrats have not been supportive of Israel.” Perl also likes Cruz’ philosophy of smaller government and limits on spending.

WARREN ELLIOTT

Age, hometown: 82, Pound Ridge

Background: Elliott is a retired electrical engineer. He and this wife, Jeanne, have three children and 10 grandchildren. They have lived in Pound Ridge for 23 years. Before that, they lived in Larchmont, where they enjoyed sailing on Long Island Sound.

Voted for last time: Mitt Romney

Why Cruz: “In a nutshell Ted Cruz is the only true Conservative in the race,” Elliott said. “He is one of the only non-RINOs (Republican in Name Only) elected.” Elliott likes Cruz’ stance on government, taxes and the military. “He’s in favor of a strong military and he will stand with Israel.”

DIANE LEHNERT

Age, hometown: 73, Mount Kisco

Voted for last time: Romney

Background: She is retired and formerly worked in direct marketing and advertising. She and her husband, Timothy, live in Mount Kisco and formerly lived in Pleasantville. They have three children and six grandchildren.

Why Cruz: “He is the only Constitutionalist,” she said. “He memorized the Constitution. We need to keep the Constitution.” She doesn’t like any of the other candidates. “Bernie Sanders is a Socialist, Hillary Clinton is just about herself and Donald Trump is a disaster,” she said. “Cruz is the only candidate who means what he says.” She also likes the fact that Cruz wants to reduce the size of government and return to the states the ability to decide social issues, like same-sex marriage and abortion rights. “He doesn’t want government telling people what to do,” she said.

MELISSA WOODFORD

Age, hometown: 18, New City

Background: Woodford is voting for the first time in the presidential primary. She grew up in New City where she was taught at home by her parents. The teen recently took first-place in a statewide oratory contest about the U.S. Constitution. She and her family are devout Christians.

Voted for last time: She is a first-time voter.

Why Cruz: She is a strong Cruz supporter who has done work on phone banks for the candidate. Woodford said she likes Cruz because of his devout Christian faith. “He is consistent in what he believes in,” she said. “He does not back down.” She also supports his position on social issues. “He is a strong supporter of traditional marriage and he is a strong supporter of pro-life issues,” Woodford said. She likes his plan to make government smaller, secure the borders and stand with Israel. “Ted Cruz is a firm and consistent conservative,” she said.