Codebook for 2007 City Council Election Data

Who Governs Saratoga Springs

This codebook is for use with the excel data file Saratoga Springs_election 07.xls. The letter in front of the question corresponds with the column in excel. The number in the cell corresponds to the answer given by the respondent. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I have tried to make sure the codebook and data are clear, but we are all human.

The poll was conducted on the Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday evening after the City Council Elections (Nov 7-11). We called a random sample of registered voters from the Saratoga County Board of Elections. Respondents were asked a 32 question phone survey, with ½ receiving a subset of questions on the mayoral race and the other ½ receiving a subset of questions on the public works race. Overally, we contacted 233 respondents who voted; non-voters were omitted from our results. The survey was conducted by the 12 first year students in my Who Governs Saratoga Springs as part of their class project studying political campaign in Saratoga Springs.

================================

Hello, I’m ___ , and a student at Skidmore College. We are talking with citizens of Saratoga Springs today about Tuesday’s City Council election. I would like to ask you a few questions on a confidential basis as part of a class project. I want to assure you that this poll is being completed for research purposes only and that all responses given will remain strictly confidential.

A. Rotate Asking Mayor - Commissioner of Public Works Poll

1 if asked the Mayor Poll—were asked questions AG-AU

2 if asked the Commissioner of Public Works Poll – were asked questions K-W

B. As you know last Tuesday was election day in Saratoga Springs. Many people we have spoken to did not happen to vote. How about you? Did you happen to vote in this year’s election or were you unable, like many others, to make it to the polls?

1. YES

0 NO – non voters were deleted from our analysis

C. Now, generally speaking, would you say that things in Saratoga Springs are going in the right direction, or have they pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track?

1. Right Direction

2. Wrong Track

D. Which ONE of the following issues was MOST important to you in deciding how to vote in the City Council elections? Was it …(RANDOMIZE)

E. Then Ask: And which issue was the NEXT most important to you in deciding how to vote in the City Council Elections?

1. Taxes

2. Preserving Open Space

3 New drinking water source

4 Civility in city government

5 a new Police Station

6 Pace of Development

7 Other

F. In the election for MAYOR, for whom did you vote?

(ROTATE FIRST TWO NAMES- keep #s same, Don’t give Party)

1 Valerie Keehn (Democrat)

2 Scott Johnson (Republican)

3 Gordon Boyd (Independent)

4. Refused (do not read)

G. In the election for Commissioner of Public Works, for whom did you vote

(ROTATE FIRST TWO NAMES- keep #s same)

1 Tommy McTygue (Democrat)

2 Skip Scirroco (Republican)

3. Refused (do not read)

H. In the election for Commissioner of Public Safety, for whom did you vote

(ROTATE FIRST TWO NAMES- keep #s same)

1. Ron Kim (Democrat)

2. Richard Wirth

3. Refused (do not read)

I. In the election for Commissioner of Finance, for whom did you vote

(ROTATE FIRST TWO NAMES- keep #s same)

1. Jane Weihe (Democrat) (pronounced WHY)

2. Ken Ivins (Republican)

3. Refused (do not read)

J. Now, some people decide early in a campaign how they will vote. Others make their decisions just before the election . When would you say you made your FINAL decision on which candidates you were going to vote for in the election. (rotate top to bottom, bottom to top)

1. The day of the election

2. During the last few days before the election

3. During October

4. During September

5. Before September

6. don’t know/not sure (do not read)

7. refused (do not read)

Now I am going to read you a list of things that people may have considered in casting their vote for Commissioner of PUBLIC WORKS this year. Regardless of how you may have voted, I would like you to tell me which candidate running for Commissioner of Public Works you believe would do the best job dealing with each specific issue I read you:

1. McTygue (Democrat) 2 Scirocco (Republican) 3. Both 4. Neither 5. Don’t Know.

K. preserving open space.

L. managing the Public Works Department.

M. finding a new source of drinking water.

In terms of personal characteristics, which candidate for Commissioner of PUBLIC WORKS do you believe:

1. McTygue- Democrat 2 Scirocco--Republican 3. Both 4. Neither 5. Don’t Know.

N. is the most experienced .

O. would be honest and ethical.

P. would work with others.

Q. would provide an independent voice.

Did you receive any mail from any of the candidates for Commissioner of Public Works?

Let them provide answers

Can answer more than one

R. 1 Mail from McTygue, 0 if no

S. 1 Mail from Scirroco, 0 if no

Did you see any television commercials for any of the candidates for Commissioner of Public Works?

Let them provide answers

T. 1 Mail from McTygue, 0 if no

U. 1 Mail from Scirroco, 0 if no

Did you personally meet any of the candidates for Commissioner of Public Works?

Let them provide answers

V. 1 Mail from McTygue, 0 if no

W. 1 Mail from Scirroco, 0 if no

NOTE THE SURVEY SKIPS X AND Y TO SLOT Z!!!

Now I have just a few more questions for statistical purposes only.

Z. In what year were you born

__ __ __ __

AA. And what was the last grade you completed in school. (DO NOT READ CATEGORIES)

1. some high school

2. graduated high school

3. Technical or vocational school

4. some college

5. gradated college

7. graduate/professional school

8. refused do not read

AB. How long have you lived in Saratoga Springs?

______ in years (i.e. 20)

AC. An in politics today, do you consider yourself … (ROTATE)

a Republican

A Democrat

Or something else

If Republican or Democrat, Ask, would you call yourself a strong Republican/Democrat or a Not so strong Republican/Democrat?

If something else, ask, Do you think of yourself as closer to the Republican or the Democratic Party.

1. Strong Republican

2. No so strong Republican

3. Lean to Republican

4. Something else--

5. Lean to Democrat

6. No so strong Democrat

7. Strong Democrat

AD. And in politics today, do you consider yourself … (ROTATE)

1. Conservative

2. Moderate

3. Liberal

AE. Did you work for any of the candidates’ campaigns in this election?

0 No

1 Yes

AF. GENDER – don’t ask

0 if male

1 if female

=========================================================

Now I am going to read you a list of things that people may have considered in casting their vote for Mayor this year. Regardless of how you may have voted, I would like you to tell me which candidate running for MAYOR you believe would do the best job dealing with each specific issue I read you:

1. Valerie Keehn 2. Scott Johnson 3. Gordon Boyd. 4. Equal 5. None. (DON’T READ 6-9, BUT ENTER THE ANSWERS IF GIVEN) 6. Keehn and Johnson, not Boyd, 7. Keehn and Boyd, but not Johnson. 8. Johnson and Boyd, but not Keehn. 9. DK

K. Promoting fiscal responsibility

L. Controlling the pace of development

M. Restoring civility to city government

In terms of personal characteristics, which candidate for MAYOR do you believe would:

N Provide an independent voice

O. Be a Strong Leader

P. Be able to work with others

Did you receive any direct mail from any of the candidates for Mayor?

Let them provide answers

Can answer more than one

Q. 1 Mail from Keehn, 0 if none

R. 1 Mail from Johnson, 0 if none

S. 1 Mail from Boyd, 0 none

Did you see any television commercials for any of the candidates for Mayor?

Let them provide answers

T. 1. TV for Keehn, 0 if none

U. 1. TV for Johnson, 0 if none

V. 1. TV for Boyd, 0 if none

Did you personally meet any of the candidates for mayor?

Let them provide answers

W. 1. Met Keehn, 0 if none

X. 1. Met Johnson, 0 if none

Y. 1. Met Boyd, 0 if none