1. LOCAL GOVERNANCE IN JORDAN: A MUNICIPAL PUBLIC OPINION POLL OF CITIZENS IN SALT, ZARQA & TAFILAH Dr. Musa Shteiwi Jordan Center for Social Research

2. 2 Contents Poll Objectives Poll Description Poll Outcomes

3. 3 Poll Objectives This Poll aims to examine citizens’ opinions on the following issues concerning their municipalities: Public opinion on the general direction of each municipality. The most important challenges facing municipalities. Attitudes toward local governance. Degree of satisfaction with the services provided by municipalities, including public services and utilities. Evaluation of the performance of the current council as compared with previous councils. The reasons behind complaints about local services. Attitudes toward women’s participation in municipal councils. The criteria that should apply to municipal council candidates.

4. 4 Poll Description Sample Size: 1500 individuals; 500 from each municipality; Salt, Zarqa and Tafilah; who are 18 years or older, randomly selected from each municipality (50% male and 50% female). A random cluster sample included 30 sites in Salt and Tafilah and 50 sites in Zarqa. The frame of 2004 census was used. The poll was conducted on September 13-17, 2005. The field work for this poll was conducted by Middle East Marketing and Research Consultants. This poll was supported by the International Republican Institute (IRI).

5. 5 Presentation of the Poll’s Most Important Findings

6. 6 Municipality Tafilah%Zarqa%Salt% 34.235.461.4 Things are going in the right direction 52.450.830.2 Things are going in the wrong direction 13.213.68.2 Not Sure/Do not know (NS/DK) 0.2 Refused to answer 100 Total Are things going in the right or wrong direction in your municipality?

7. 7 Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah Garbage Collection 14.817.811.6 Road paving and maintenance 14.69.019.8 Municipal financial deficit/lack of resources 4.64.213.2 Inefficient mayor and employees 6.27.07.7 Street cleaning 2.18.64.4 Public health supervision, disease control 3.38.23.4 Corruption 4.74.84.3 Water shortage 1.510.40.2 Poor public transportation 6.12.02.4 Poor street lighting 4.61.42.0 Lack of health facilities 2.71.42.0 Delay in issuing construction licenses 1.30.4 Others 6.64.26.1 No problems 17.77.014.2 Do not know 9.413.68.3 The most important problem facing your municipality? (open question)

8. 8 Which of the following methods do you support for selecting a mayor and municipal councilors?

9. 9 Which council was more successful in performing its tasks, the previous (elected) council or the current (appointed) council?

10. 10 In 2001, small municipalities were incorporated into larger ones. Were you with the incorporation or against it at the time?

11. 11 Are you with the incorporation now?

12. Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah To improve municipal services 46.940.941.1 To enable municipalities to deal with problems more efficiently 25.332.026.3 To increase revenue 18.218.820.6 To decrease tribal conflict 2.94.46.4 Other reasons 2.93.93.6 No specific reason 3.802.1 Total 100 Why did you support the incorporation at the time?

13. Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah Worsening of services 66.770.370.4 Overlapping jurisdictions 79.312 Increased distance between municipalities 6.48.54 Increased taxes and penalties 7.45.92.7 Unbalanced budget 4.52.54.4 No change 3.50.84.4 Other reasons 21.72.2 No specific reason 2.50.80 Total 100 Why were you against the incorporation at the time?

14. 14 To what degree are you satisfied with the following services in your municipality? Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah Construction licensingSatisfied 43.544.447.5 Not Satisfied 3933.833.4 Business licensingSatisfied 494748.9 Not Satisfied 20.421.421.2 Road paving and maintenance Satisfied 5450.247.2 Not Satisfied 45.144.650.3 Street cleaningSatisfied 60.43652.1 Not Satisfied 39.16247.6 Street lightingSatisfied 63.770.464 Not Satisfied 35.12835.7 Health supervision of shops and factories Satisfied 57.853.846.3 Not Satisfied 26.232.444

15. 15 To what degree are you satisfied with the following services in your municipality? Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah Garbage collection Satisfied 58.840.452.6 Not Satisfied 40.858.246.6 Public health supervision/ Disease control Satisfied 6148.456.2 Not Satisfied 35.345.640.5 Building and regulating public markets Satisfied 5554.641.1 Not Satisfied 31.738.251.6 Building and maintaining public parks Satisfied 41.344.618.9 Not Satisfied 47.74972.5

16. 16 Which council performed its tasks better: the current (appointed) council or the previous (elected) council? Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah Construction licensingCurrent Council 4129.829.1 Previous Council 31.627.638.3 Business licensingCurrent Council 40.92927.5 Previous Council 25.824.238.2 Road paving and maintenance Current Council 48.933.632 Previous Council 29.230.442.3 Street cleaningCurrent Council 50.230.635.8 Previous Council 28.233.241.1

17. 17 Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah Street lightingCurrent Council 51.437.636.2 Previous Council 24.628.639.9 Health supervision of shops and factories Current Council 49.934.431 Previous Council 2425.239.9 Garbage collectionCurrent Council 50.832.633.2 Previous Council 27.331.442.3 Public health supervision/ Disease control Current Council 4831.434.4 Previous Council 27.730.638.3 Which council performed its tasks better: the current (appointed) council or the previous (elected) council?

18. 18 Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah Constructing and regulating public markets Current Council 46.834.630.6 Previous Council 20.728.237 Building and maintaining public parks Current Council 40.232.221.4 Previous Council 20.525.430.6 Which council performed its tasks better: the current (appointed) council or the previous (elected) council?

19. 19 Municipality (% yes) SaltZarqaTafilah Construction licensing 28.923.624.5 Business licensing 7.29.27.7 Road paving and maintenance 39.334.645.7 Street cleaning 32.15236.8 Street lighting 30.321.427.7 Health supervision of shops and factories 10.814.825.5 Garbage collection 33.348.440.1 Do you have complaints about the following services in your city?

20. 20 Municipality (% yes) SaltZarqaTafilah Public health supervision/ Disease control 28.923.624.5 Constructing and regulating public markets 7.29.27.7 Building and maintaining public parks 32.15236.8 Do you have complaints about the following services in your city?

21. 21 Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah Construction licensing Higher cost 49.364.456.3 Takes a long time, too much red tape 34.323.728.1 Business licensing Takes a long time, too much red tape 55.341.334 Difficulty in obtaining a license/ Regulations too strict 20.921.723.8 Wasta 10.617.42.6 What is your specific complaint about the following services?

22. 22 Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah Road paving and maintenance Poor road paving and maintenance 72.179.873.9 Street cleaning Lack of cleanliness 70.576.966 Lack of follow up and attention 24.214.622.5 No garbage bins 4.77.710.4 What is your specific complaint about the following services?

23. 23 Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah Street lighting Inadequate lighting 73.183.279.5 Poor maintenance 26.913.116.8 Garbage collection Garbage is not collected regularly 81.677.777.8 Inadequate staffing 9.19.511.1 Inadequate garbage bins/vehicles 8.610.710.6 What is your specific complaint about the following services?

24. 24 Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah Public health supervision/ Disease control Inadequate use of pesticides 575.350.6 Lack of interest in the public health 3634.440.1 Constructing and regulating public markets Poorly organized markets 40.867.168.8 Lack of markets, building new markets 54.221.128.3 Building/maintaining public parks Lack of parks, building new parks 95.293.298.1 What is your specific complaint about the following services?

25. 25 Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah Telephone Services Satisfied 82.98275.7 Not Satisfied 11.81218.1 Water Services Satisfied 75.551.281.6 Not Satisfied 24.448.818.4 Electricity Services Satisfied 84.784.484.8 Not Satisfied 15.315.215 Public Transportation Satisfied 53.473.665.9 Not Satisfied 54.82533.6 To what degree are you satisfied with the following services in your municipality?

26. 26 Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah Sewage System Satisfied 52.868.855 Not Satisfied 41.330.238 Mail Services Satisfied 69.674.477.9 Not Satisfied 1712.210.8 Education Services Satisfied 81.786.283.6 Not Satisfied 17.211.816 Health Services Satisfied 84.186.283.6 Not Satisfied 15.111.816 To what degree are you satisfied with the following services in your municipality?

27. 27 Have you ever contacted a municipal council member (in person or by phone) about issues that are important to you or to your community? Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah Yes 24.918.224.7 No 74.581.675.1 Do not remember 0.60.2 Total 100 Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah Yes 6.92.84 No 92.49794.5 Do not remember 0.80.21.4 Total 100 Has a municipal council member ever contacted you (in person or by phone) about issues that are important to you or to your community?

28. 28 Did you vote in the last municipal elections in 2003? Municipality% SaltZarqaTafilah Yes 73.146.656.9 No 24.849.442.3 Do not remember 1.73.80.4 Refused to Answer 0.40.20.4 Total 100

29. 29 Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah Lack of interest in elections 18.73422.2 Lack of confidence in candidates 9.114.722.5 Age constraints 12.911.317.6 No time 20.49.46.9 Outside country 9.813.67.3 Military personnel 8.38.76.5 Personal reasons 9.15.79.2 Other reasons 5.41.54.2 Refused to answer 6.11.13.7 Total 100 Why did you not vote in the last municipal elections?

30. 30 Do you intend to vote in the upcoming municipal elections? Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah Yes 68.16164 No 24.83027.3 Do not remember 7.18.68.5 Refused to answer -0.40.2 Total 100

31. 31 Do you agree with the following forms of women’s political participation in your municipality?

32. 32 Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah Residing within the locality Important 90.589.293.5 Not important 9.59.85.9 ReligiosityImportant 85.685.292.3 Not important 14.514.27.5 Good record in public service Important 92.493.293.1 Not important 7.45.66.1 Holder of a university degree Important 86.88583.6 Not important 13.21416.1 There are a number of criteria that people think are important for a candidate who wants to run for election in your municipality. How important do you think each of these criteria is?

33. 33 Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah Gives priority to public rather than personal interest Important 98.59798.4 Not important 1.52.40.8 Political affiliationImportant 41.447.643.9 Not important 54.748.452.2 To be a maleImportant 56.149.455 Not important 43.949.844.6 There are a number of criteria that people think are important for a candidate who wants to run for election in your municipality. How important do you think each of these criteria is?

34. 34 Municipality % SaltZarqaTafilah To be youngImportant 66.152.260.3 Not important 33.446.839.3 Good reputationImportant 98.597.498.3 Not important 1.321.4 A member of your family or tribe Important 37.429.831.7 Not important 62.369.467.3 There are a number of criteria that people think are important for a candidate who wants to run for election in your municipality. How important do you think each of these criteria is?