By Dan Nataf, PhDDirector, Center for the Study of Local Issues

Anne Arundel Community CollegeAugust 4, 2010

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Kiwanis Club Presentation – August 4, 2010 The Center for the Study of Local Issues: Overview

• CSLI – Part of Sarbanes Center for Public and Community Service

• Operating since 1978

• Mission: Provide students opportunities for engaged learning, community outreach

• Main activity: Public interest and client surveys/research each semester

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Surveys: Respondents randomly chosen from universe of listed telephone numbers combined with computer generated numbers

• Typical sample size: 400-900 respondents; students used as interviewers

• Topics: Each survey includes demographic and attitude/behavior questions, including such themes as:

– Economic conditions – Growth/Development– Transportation– Economic conditions– Education– Tax and spending preferences– Policy preferences

• Visit CSLI’s web site for previous surveys (www2.aacc.edu/csli)

Kiwanis Club Presentation – August 4, 2010 The Center for the Study of Local Issues: Overview

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LAA Presentation – Feb. 28, 2009 Main Issues for Today

– County – Most important problem– Economic conditions– Right/Wrong direction– Quality of life in Anne Arundel County– Dealing with budget shortfalls – County govt.– State budget measures – approval levels– O’Malley approval balancing budget– O’Malley vs. Ehrlich– Slots– Attorney General Doug Gansler’s ruling on

recognition of same sex marriage from other states– Constitutional Convention in Maryland– Trust and confidence in various institutions

Kiwanis Club Presentation – August 4, 2010 Main Issues for Today Based on March 2010

Survey

How would you rate economic conditions in… excellent, good, only fair or poor? (% saying “excellent” or

“good”)

Does the following apply to you or your household? (% saying “yes”)

57 5458 55

6266

60 61 6258 58

5357 55

51 52 51 50 5247

52 52

2327 25 24 23

15

2621

2531

2429 27 26 29 27

33 32 31 28 27 2820 19 17 20

1519

1418

13 1219 18 16 18 20 21

16 17 1725

21 20

Right 51

Wrong 34

Unsure 15

05

10152025303540455055606570

Sp

'99

Fa

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Sp

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Fa

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Right Wrong Unsure

Years in County Percentage0-5 146-10 1411-15 1216-20 1121-25 926-30 831-35 635+ 26Total 100

Aspect mentioned PercentageWater, the Bay, environment 24Location, convenience (unspecified) 14 Location: proximity to cities 3 Location: proximity to culture 2Community, people, neighborhoods 9Schools 9Services – government, private 7Entertainment 6Safety 5Beauty, clean, private, quiet, geography 5Economy, close to jobs 4Parks, outdoors 3Rural, less developed 2Historic 2Transportation 2Diversity (unspecified) 2Low taxes 1Total 100

Quality of Life Aspect Mentioned by Respondents

Years Living in Anne Arundel County

Action cited PercentageCut government services 27

Raise taxes 8

Some of both 55Other response/no answer 11

Total 101

Measure ApproveDisapprove N.A.Providing a $3,000 tax credit for firms that hire unemployed workers. 71 24 5Putting aside 24 percent of the Bay’s oyster habitat to rebuild the oyster population 68 24 8Decreasing the overall state budget by $249 million compared to last year's budget 58 30 12Avoiding any new taxes to balance the budget 56 39 5Freezing state workers’ salaries for a second year 53 43 4Providing $20 million to the Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund 48 45 7Ending the tuition freeze at the University of Maryland with a 3 percent increase. 42 52 5Keeping $647 million in the state's "rainy day fund" rather than spending it to balance the budget 41 51 9Depending on possible but uncertain federal funds to balance the budget 31 61 7

Measure Fall ‘09 Spring ‘10

Good job 13 15

Okay job 42 44

Poor job 38 35

Unsure 7 5

No answer 1 1

Total 101 100

Candidate Including all

categories

Excluding some

categoriesO’Malley 35 43

Ehrlich 47 57

Someone else 3 0

Neither 5 0

Unsure, don’t know 10 0

Total 100 100

State Issues: O’Malley vs. Ehrlich for Governor in NovemberCounty Results in 2006: Ehrlich 56.9 vs. O’Malley 42.0 percentO’Malley won by 7 percent statewide in 2006

Opponents to the introduction of slot machines at Arundel Mills Mall are circulating a petition to put the county council’s decision to grant zoning needed for slots to referendum in November, potentially reversing the decision. Do you support or oppose this petition effort?

Position Percentage

Support 45

Oppose 45

Unsure 7

No answer 2

Total 99

Attorney General Doug Gansler recently ruled that Maryland should recognize same sex marriages from other states.  Maryland does not currently permit same sex marriages. Do you agree or disagree with the attorney general's ruling?

Position Percentage

Agree 48

Disagree 44

Some other response 2

No answer 6

Total 100

Every 20 years, the Maryland General Assembly is required to include on the ballot a question about holding a constitutional convention to revise the state’s constitution. Would you favor or oppose holding such a convention at this time?

Position Percentage

Favor 44

Oppose 42

Don’t know enough 9

No answer 5

Total 100

Institution Great Some Little No opinion/no answer

Mean Total

Elected

The President of the United States 32 34 33 2 1.98 101The U.S. Senate 9 39 49 2 2.37 99The U.S. House of Representatives 8 41 48 3 2.36 100The Governor of Maryland 17 48 33 2 2.13 100The Maryland General Assembly 11 50 31 8 2.05 100The County Executive 19 54 21 7 1.87 101The County Council 13 58 21 8 1.90 100Overall elected mean 16 46 34 5 2.1Elected executives 23 45 29 4 2.0Elected legislatures 11 50 33 6 2.1UnelectedThe Supreme Court 33 46 18 3 1.8 100Anne Arundel County Fire Department 80 16 2 2 1.2 100Anne Arundel County Police 58 30 10 2 1.5 100Anne Arundel County Public Schools 40 41 15 4 1.7 100Our local courts 27 46 20 8 1.7 101Unelected mean 48 36 13 4 1.6

National Issues:: Presidential job approval

3934 35

28 24

5347 47

37 33 32 3025

6154

47

010203040506070

Fall'06

Spring'07

Fall'07

Spring'08

Fall'08

Spring'09

Fall'09

Spring'10

CSLI Gallup

National Issues:: % approving of president’s job by party