Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County:

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• Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County
• Recent Trends and Findings
• June 14, 2006
• Presented by
• Dan Nataf, Ph.D
• Director, Center for the Study of Local Issues
• Anne Arundel Community College
• 101 College Parkway
• Arnold, MD 21012
• [phone]
• [phone] fax
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• ddnataf_at_aacc.edu
• www2.aacc.edu/csli

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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of
Local Issues
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of
Local Issues

• CSLI conducts public interest surveys each
  semester (since 1978)
• Respondents randomly chosen from universe of
  listed telephone numbers combined with computer
  generated numbers
• Typical sample size 300-525 respondents
  students used as interviewers Spring, 2006
  401 respondents
• Each survey includes demographic and
  attitude/behavior questions
• Surveys themes include
• Growth/Development
• Transportation
• Economic conditions
• Education
• Tax and spending preferences
• Policy preferences
• Visit CSLIs web site for previous surveys
  (www2.aacc.edu/csli)

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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Trends ?Focus on the Economy Optimism with
Cost of Living Anxieties

• Economic optimism Thinking about our county's
  economy, how would you rate economic conditions
  in Anne Arundel County today -- excellent, good,
  only fair, or poor?

County
National
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Trends Economic Optimism - Perception of Issues
in 2010 ? Negative expectations for all major
issues except economy

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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Trends Most Important Issues Facing AA County
Residents 1995-2006 - Trends for Major Issues

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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Trends Most Important Issues Facing AA County
Residents 1995-2006 - Trends for Major Issues
? Concern about the economy rises

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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings Economic Anxiety Concerns about the
cost of living
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings Income and seriousness of housing and
property taxes
Income and Seriousness of Housing Costs
Income and Seriousness of Property Taxes
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings Income and seriousness of health care
and retirement
Income and Seriousness of Health Care
Income and Seriousness of Having Money for
Retirement
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings Age and seriousness of utility and
property tax costs
Age and Seriousness of Utility Costs
Age and Seriousness of Property Tax Costs
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings Seniors Most Pressing Needs
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Trends Countys Direction Right or Wrong? ?
Positive feelings affected by perceptions of the
economy?

Econ (goodxlint)
Right
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings Support for Various State and Local
Policies? Yes to Another Bridge, Pollution Fee
and Stem Cell Research (Fall 2005)

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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings Support for Various State Policies ?
Yes to Wal-Mart Bill, Smoking Ban, No to Gay
Marriage
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings Gas Prices Solutions? ? Renewal
Energy, Hybrids and Transit Expansion Preferred
(Fall 2005)

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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings County, State, Federal Issues
Thinking ahead to the race for county executive
in our county, what is the most important issue
or candidate trait that would make you vote for a
particular candidate?
What is the most important issue facing the state
of Maryland at this time?
What is the most important issue facing the state
of Maryland at this time?
What is the most important issue facing the
federal government at this time?
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings County, State, Federal Issues
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Trends How Prepared are Local Authorities in
Event of Terrorist Strike - Trend
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Trends How Prepared are Local Authorities in
Event of Terrorist Strike - Trend
Katrina
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Table 13 Reasons for Voting for a County
Executive Candidate
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings Reasons for voting for the next County
ExecutiveCandidate Traits ? Yes to the honest
politician
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings Support for Gubernatorial Candidates
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings Ehrlich Support by Party and Ideology

Rep/Cons
75 Republicans 68Cons 65Rep/Mods 63 Dem/Cons
46 Average 40 Moderates 37Independents
33Liberals 29 Democrats 22 Dem/Mods 20 Dem/Lib
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings Support for Gubernatorial Candidates
Support for Ehrlich - Demographics Retired,
Protestants 5160 50
Men 49Some college 47Employed in private
sector 46Whites 4575-100, 18-30 age
4430-50k, Catholics 43Postgraduates
4230-44 age, 100-150 41 Average 40
Evangelicals 40, College grads 40

150 3845-59 age, 37 50-75, seculars
36Women, single, 0-30k 35High school
diploma 34
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings Ehrlich Support by Issues
Lower taxes MII 69Utility cost NVS 67Ed cost
NVS 64 Econ conditions xlt 61WalMart oppose
58Housing, Healthcare NVS 57Gas cost NVS
56Ports MII, 54 Anti-gay marriage 52Homeland
security MII 50Education MII 49Property tax
cost NVS 49Oppose smoking ban, Healthcare SWS
46Crime, Environment, Housing SWS 44Utility
cost SWS, Property tax cost NVS 43Education
costs SWS 42
Propty tax VS, Economy good, smoke ban support
40 Average 40Utility
costs VS 39 Econ conditions fair, Housing VS,
gambling MII 38 Gas cost MII, healthcare costs
MII, ed costs VS 37 Utility MII 36WalMart
support 35Help economy, pro gay marriage
32 Budget, healthcare MII 31 Cost of living VS
29gas prices VS 25
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings President Bushs Job Approval ?
Majority Disapproves
Do you approve of the job George W. Bush is doing
as President? Fall 2005 Approve 45
Disapprove 48 Unsure 7 Spring 2006
Approve 37 Disapprove 54 Unsure 8
Iraq Invasion
9/11
Saddam
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings Bush Job Approval Party and Ideology
(vs. Ehrlich)
Bush Rep/Cons 73 Cons 76 Republicans
65Rep/Mods 60 Dem/Cons 42 Average 37
Ehrlich Rep/Cons 75 Republicans 68Cons
65Rep/Mods 63 Dem/Cons 46 Average 40
Moderates 37Independents 33Liberals
29 Democrats 22 Dem/Mods 20 Dem/Lib 10
Moderates 38 Independents 19
Democrats 17 Liberals 16 Dem/Mods 14 Dem/Lib
5
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings Bush Job Approval Fall 2005 and
Spring 2006
Bush Spring 2006 Conservatives, 76
Republicans, 65 Men, 41 Moderates
38 Average, 37
Bush Fall 2005 Republicans, 77Conservatives,
70 Men, 51Average 45 Women,
41 Independents, 40 Moderates, 39 Democrats,
Liberals 18
Women, 34 gtIndependents, 19 Democrats 17
Liberals 16
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings Bush Approval by Federal Issues
Homeland security, 58 (10 overall)Local
economy excellent, 58 (14) Terrorism, 57
(10) Immigration, 50 (3) Favor no gay
marriage amendment, 46 (53)
Average 37 Local economy less than excellent,
34 (86) War in Iraq, 32 (41) Deficit/debt, 29
(12) Oppose no gay marriage amendment, 27
(39) Healthcare, 25 (4) Bush leadership,
competence, 13 (5)
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings National Gallup Findings Bush Approval
On Rise April-June
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings National Gallup Findings Terrorism
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings National Gallup Findings Immigration,
Energy, Economy
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Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Findings Other Issues covered in Spring Survey
? Cancer, Charities, Seniors

• Other issues in Spring CSLI semi-annual survey
• Cancer treatment, causes, satisfaction with
  services
• Charitable causes name recognition,
  impression, contribution
• Seniors familiarity with services