GREATER SEVERNA PARK COUNCILPRESENTATIONResults of Oct. 15-18, 2012

Survey of Anne Arundel County Residents

By Dan NatafDirector, Center for the Study of Local Issues

Anne Arundel Community Collegewww2.aacc.edu/csli

November 13, 2012

Center for the Study of Local Issues:Semi-annual survey

• Conducted each March and October• CSLI – Part of the Sarbanes Center for Public and

Community Service• Surveys – student volunteers participate to learn social

science research methods (engaged learning) and community service

• Involves 70+/- students as telephone interviewers• Survey contents:

• Benchmark questions on the economy, most important problem, right/wrong direction, and demographics

• Variable questions on current policy choices and major events• 510 Anne Arundel County residents, 18 or over

Plan – Focus of this presentation

• What are current trends• Right/wrong direction• Most important problem facing residents• Perceptions of the economy• Economic circumstances

• How are these trends related to election choices • Other policy issues – low cost spaying, maintain healthy weight

County: Right or Wrong Direction? Spring ‘99 to Fall ‘12

  Individual says “Right” or “Wrong” for “Yourself

personally”Levels (% “Right”) Right Wrong Right-wrong

County 54 35 19

State 43 16 27

Nation 44 9 35

Right/Wrong Direction – Individual by County, State, Nation

“Right direction” by Party

Levels Overall Dem. Rep. Dem-Rep.

Unaff.

County 50 58 40 18 56

State 36 55 16 39 35

Nation 36 59 13 46 33

Respondent 78 83 71 12 83

Obama Vote by Right/Wrong Direction: County, State and USA

Most Important Problem Fall 2006 to Fall 2012

Economy continues drop as problem in October 2012

County – Economic Conditions vs. State and USA

Obama Vote by Perceptions of the Economy - County, State, USA

Cost of living indicators

Other economic indicators

  Better Same Worse Unsure/NA

Total

Economic growth 41 34 15 10 100

Unemployment 42 30 20 9 101

Inflation 10 33 48 9 100

Your personal financial situation

28 54 14 4 100

Economic Conditions over the next 12 Months

Spaying and Neutering Program• Low cost spaying and neutering:

• Support 71% Oppose 25% Other/NA 4%

Paying an extra… Support Maybe Oppose N.A.

Dollar or two when getting pet rabies shots?

81 5 13 2

Penny or two when buying pet food?

72 6 20 2

Dollar or two added to your annual state income tax?

46 5 48 2

Dollar or two when renewing pet licenses?

72 5 21 3

Answer category Percent citing (N=276)

Exercise 26Food quality/content 12Education programs 11Food intake/portions 11General diet 10Facilities – create, provide less expensive access 8

School related actions 7Proposals – specific measures 6

Personal commitment, not a govt. concern 5

Other 3Food cost 1

Public Responses to “How to maintain

and achieve healthy weight”

Referenda: State and County  Support Oppose Unsure No answer

Legalizing same sex marriage 43 46 7 4

Allowing the children of illegal immigrants to attend Maryland community colleges and universities at “in-state” tuition rates

37 54 7 3

Upholding the boundaries for congressional districts created by the state legislature

35 41 18 7

Allowing the creation of a sixth casino in Prince George’s County, table games at all casinos, and more slot machines overall.

34 57 6 3

The next two proposals apply to the county. 

Allowing the county council to replace the county executive if convicted of certain crimes – without waiting for any appeals.

73 18 6 4

Allowing the party leaders in the relevant central committee to break a tie when the county council cannot pick a replacement county executive or council member.

57 25 13 6

Same Sex Marriage by Demographics

Dream Act by Demographic Variables

Casino Vote by Demographics

Presidential job approvalFall 2007 to Spring 2012

  Overall Democrats Republicans Unaffiliated

Barack Obama42 77 8 34

Mitt Romney 47 14 84 49

Undecided 7 5 8 8

Someone else 1 2 0 2

Wouldn’t vote 0 0 0 2

No answer 2 2 1 6

Total 99 100 101 101

Presidential Vote in Anne Arundel County

Actual vote: Obama 48%; Romney 49%

Presidential Vote: Motivations

Item Overall Obama Romney Undecided

The candidate has the right ideas for improving the economy*

89 89 91 87

The ability of the candidate to work with Congress

87 86 88 90

The candidate will better defend America’s national interests*

85 77 91 90

The candidate’s ability to relate to people like yourself*

58 71 47 53

The candidate’s choice for vice president 48 46 52 41The candidate’s personal background is appealing*

34 39 34 13

My dislike for the other candidate* 29 35 29 13

 Item Overall Obama Romney Undecided

Economy 49 35 59 68

Trust, honesty, character 7 9 6 8

Foreign affairs, national security, defense 7 5 9 0

Healthcare 6 9 4 4

Women’s issues (abortion, contraception, equal rights) 5 9 3 4

Dislike of other candidate 5 6 5 0

Other answers 20 28 14 16

Total 99 101 101 100