1. 1 Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends and Findings March 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 (410) 777-2733 (410) 777-4733 fax ddnataf@aacc.edu www2.aacc.edu/csli

2. 2 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 Each survey includes demographic and attitude/behavior questions Surveys themes include: –Growth/Development –Transportation –Economic conditions –Education –Tax and spending preferences –Policy preferences Visit CSLI’s web site for previous surveys (www2.aacc.edu/csli)

3. 3 Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends and Findings CSLI Web Site www2.aacc. edu/csli

4. 4 Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of Local Issues: Web Site - Search page

5. 5 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?” Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends Focus on the Economy: Optimism with Cost of Living Anxieties

6. 6 Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends Economic Optimism - Perception of Issues in 2010 Negative expectations for all major issues except economy

7. 7 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

8. 8 Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Findings Economic Anxiety: Concerns about the cost of living Cost Very serious Somewhat serious Not very serious No answer The cost of housing6523110 The cost of utilities such as electricity or natural gas 632980 The cost of gasoline623080 The cost of health care5828112 Not having enough money for retirement 5724163 The cost of education5129165 The cost of property taxes4937122

9. 9 Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Findings Income and seriousness of housing and property taxes Income and Seriousness of Housing Costs Housing Cost0- $50,000 $50,001 to $100,000 $100,001 to over $150,000 Overall Very serious76666167 Somewhat serious15242321 Not very serious10 1612 Total101100 Income and Seriousness of Property Taxes Property Taxes0- $50,000 $50,001 to $100,000 $100,001 to over $150,000 Overall Very serious53554049 Somewhat serious31384238 Not very serious1671813 Total100

10. 10 Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Findings Income and seriousness of health care and retirement $ Income and Seriousness of Health Care Health Care0- $50,000 $50,001 to $100,000 $100,001 to over $150,000 Overall Very serious79634660 Somewhat serious1532 28 Not very serious1252213 Total100 Income and Seriousness of Having Money for Retirement Having enough money for retirement0- $50,000 $50,001 to $100,000 $100,001 to over $150,000 Overall Very serious73644359 Somewhat serious17242823 Not very serious10123017 Total100 10199

11. 11 Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Findings Age and seriousness of utility and property tax costs Age and Seriousness of Utility Costs Utilities Cost18-2930-4445-5960 or more Overall Very serious5257647764 Somewhat serious3137281828 Not very serious176858 Total98100 Age and Seriousness of Property Tax Costs Property Taxes18-2930-4445-5960 or more Overall Very serious4344506150 Somewhat serious3647353238 Not very serious21915713 Total100

12. 12 Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Findings Seniors’ Most Pressing Needs NeedPercent Health care41 Affordable housing12 Assisted living7 Adequate income7 Drug costs6 Cost of living6 Transportation6 Taxes4 Independence4 Other4 Social isolation2 Seniors facilities/programs2 Total101

13. 13 Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends County’s Direction: Right or Wrong? Positive feelings affected by perceptions of the economy Right Econ (good+xlint)

14. 14 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) Policy (Fall, 2005)SupportOpposeNo answer An annual $60 fee dedicated only to correcting the impacts of storm water erosion and pollution in county streams and rivers 56386 Putting a large horse training and show facility in the Gambrills/Crownsville area 444313 Building a third bridge span across the Chesapeake Bay 63315 Lengthening the school day in county schools, at a cost of about $30 million 296011 State funding for embryonic stem cell research58348

15. 15 Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Findings Support for Various State Policies Yes to “Wal-Mart Bill,” Smoking Ban, No to Gay Marriage PolicySupportOpposeNA An amendment to the Maryland constitution defining marriage as only between a man and a woman 53398 The General Assembly overrode Governor Ehrlich’s veto of the so called “Wal-Mart Bill” which makes employers with over 10,000 employees spend at least 8 percent of their payrolls on health benefits. Do you support or oppose this bill? 62317 There is a bill facing the General Assembly that would eliminate all smoking in bars and restaurants – do you support or oppose this bill? 64342

16. 16 Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Findings Gas Prices: Solutions? Renewal Energy, Hybrids and Transit Expansion Preferred (Fall 2005) PolicySupportOpposeNA Tax incentives for the use of wind or solar power78166 Tax incentives for the purchase of hybrid/highly fuel efficient vehicles 74233 Increasing bus and light rail service, even if it requires more subsidies from state government 70264 Making it easier to develop nuclear power plants with the state of Maryland 434710 Higher taxes on gasoline to encourage use of more fuel efficient vehicles 20764

17. 17 Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Findings County, State, Federal Issues IssuesCountyStateFederal Education16.312.50 Control growth9.17.90 Lower taxes6.69.9.6 Other6.45.93.1 Environment3.69.4.7 Budget, funding3.15.91.4 Economic development/economy2.614.44.5 Property tax2.500 Gay marriage, abortion, moral values2.01.5.5 Crime1.19.80 Health care1.15.13.9 Horse farm0.700 Baltimore Port Sale5.01.7 Utility bills4.80 Gambling/slots2.80 Homeland security2.110.2 Gas prices1.40 Immigrants.82.6 War/Iraq40.9 Terrorism9.5 Deficit11.8 Social security1.9 Partisanship.7 Bush leadership, competence5.1

18. 18 Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends How Prepared are Local Authorities in Event of Terrorist Strike - Trend

19. 19 Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends How Prepared are Local Authorities in Event of Terrorist Strike - Trend Katrina

20. 20 CharacteristicPercent Right Experience3.8 Candidate Traits Honesty21.7 Integrity, ethical4.3 Share vision, convictions3.3 For the people3.2 Competent, responsible2.1 Other1.8 Independent, open minded1.5 Knows communities, knowledgeable1.7 Partisan1.1 Family values0.4 Section total41% of all responses Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Findings Reasons for voting for the next County Executive Candidate Traits – Yes to the honest politician Table 13: Reasons for Voting for a County Executive Candidate

21. 21 Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Findings Support for Gubernatorial Candidates CandidateOverallDemocratsRepublicansIndependentsMenWomen Robert Ehrlich Jr.402268324935 Martin O’Malley23391018 29 Douglas Duncan381043 Undecided303122502933 Total100 101100

22. 22 Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Findings President Bush’s 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% 9/11 Iraq Invasion Saddam

23. 23 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