COMMISSIONER FOR PUBLIC WORKS POLL

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.

0-- Voter ID #

A. Enter 2 since it is the Commissioner of Public Works Poll

2

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 (CONTINUE to QUESTION C)

0 NO (then go to Question AH, very last question)

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

AG Precinct # -- from the form.

ONLY ASK THIS QUESTIONS IF THEY DIDN’T VOTE

AH. Which of the following best explains why you didn’t vote? (ROTATE)

1. Too busy

2. Not registered

3. didn’t have enough information

4. vote doesn’t matter

5. didn’t like the candidates

6. other (don’t provide)

Thank you for your time.